'Is there no other person', asks SC while giving extension to ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra

PTC News Desk: Supreme Court has permitted an extension of the tenure of the Director of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Sanjay Kumar Mishra till September 15 considering “national interest”.

Issuing the decision on Thursday, the SC further clarified that it will not entertain any further application for an extension in the matter. Previously, the Supreme Court stayed the Centre's order granting Mishra a third extension, calling it "illegal." Supreme court had stated that Mishra will continue as ED director till July 31.

SC asks Centre

During the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the Centre if the entire department was "full of incompetent people" except for its current director.

SC told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, "Are we not giving a picture that there is no other person and the entire department is full of incompetent people?"

Centre’s plea to SC

In light of the ongoing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review, the Centre moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday to extend Mishra's tenure till October 15.

In its plea to the Supreme Court, the Centre stated that it may be permitted to extend the tenure of ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra due to the ongoing FATF Review, which is at a critical stage with submissions on effectiveness due on July 21, 2023, and an on-site visit scheduled for November 2023.

"At such a critical juncture, it is essential to have an individual who is well-acquainted with the overall status of money laundering investigations and proceedings across the country and also the intricacies of the procedures, operations, and activities of the investigating agency, at the helm of affairs at the Directorate of Enforcement. This is necessary to ensure that the assessment team can be promptly and ably assisted with necessary reports, information, statistics, etc.," the centre said.

The Centre stated that any change in leadership at the Directorate of Enforcement at this time would significantly hinder the agency's ability to provide necessary support and cooperation to the assessment team, thereby jeopardizing India's national interest.

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