The Supreme Court on Thursday heard the petition filed by the West Bengal government regarding the CBI's action without the prior permission of the state. During this, the Central Government told the Supreme Court that CBI is not under the control of the Central Government. At the same time, the West Bengal government has expressed its objection to carrying forward the agency's investigation.
In a case brought before the Supreme Court under Article 131 of the Constitution, the West Bengal government is suing the Centre. There are allegations that the federal agency is continuing its investigation and filing formal complaints in numerous cases, even though the state government withdrew its consent. Instead, the agency is supposed to be conducting its own internal investigations.
In a dispute involving the Centre and one or more states, Article 131 addresses the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction. Article 131 of the Constitution is one of the Supreme Court's holiest jurisdictions, and its invocation cannot be permitted, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed a bench of Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.