The Madhya Pradesh government has implemented a new rule stating that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) must obtain written permission before initiating inquiries against its public servants. This regulation, effective since July 1, excludes the need for permission when investigating central government officials or private individuals.
Notification Details and Background
According to a notification issued on July 16 by the state’s home department, the requirement for written permission is based on powers conferred by section 3 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946 (25 of 1946). The notification clarifies that previous general consents for other offenses remain valid unless specified otherwise.
State home secretary Sanjay Dubey explained, “This provision has long been in place in the state. The recent notification is in accordance with the new criminal laws to ensure smooth operations.”
This move aligns Madhya Pradesh with other states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Telangana, and Kerala, which have also withdrawn general consent for CBI investigations in various contexts. In Maharashtra, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had initially withdrawn consent in 2020, the decision was later reversed by the Eknath Shinde-led government in November 2022.