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There will be no third service extension for ED director, Supreme Court order...

News On Time Desk 11 July 2023

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has refused to give extension to ED Director Sanjay Mishra. 11 petitions were filed against the extension of service for the third time to Sanjay Mishra. In the last hearing held in May, the Supreme Court had sought an answer from the government. The matter was heard on July 11 in the bench of Justice BR Gavai, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sanjay Karol. The court asked the ED whether a person can be so important to the ED that he is being given extension for the third time despite the Supreme Court forbidding it. To which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that the extension was necessary for administrative reasons. It is necessary to evaluate the financial workforce now, otherwise India's anti-corruption ranking will drop. Also the ED argued that several leaders of the petitioners' party are facing ED probe. That's why they have filed the petition. The last hearing took place on May 8 in which the ED had argued that extension would not be granted after November 23.

The court had said during the hearing of the case that in its 2021 judgment itself, the apex court has made it clear that any service extension period of officers holding the post of Director of Enforcement after the age of retirement should be short. After the hearing, the court had reserved its decision. Today the court gave its verdict. Also, the court made it clear that no extension will be given to the ED director. With this, it became clear that Sanjay Mishra, the present director of ED, would be able to remain in his post only till 31st July.