New Delhi : The government gave a clear hint at making the CBI autonomous and free of government interference. A panel of retired judges will oversee the CBI investigations pertaining to graft or any other significant matter and ensure that it is insulated from external interference. This panel will be called  accountability committee.

The Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal confirmed the move and said all the recommendations of the Group of Ministers (GoM) chaired by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram would be placed before the cabinet. “We have decided and that is fundamental principle of the Constitution that there should be no interference of government or any other agency in the probe carried out CBI or any other agency. We are committed to that. We feel that there should be accountability along with autonomy,” Sibal said.

It has been recommended that the CBI will be provided financial autonomy like that given to an agency like the CRPF. Sources reveal that there will be an element of accountability, but the CBI will not be answerable to the government. The GoM constituted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on appropriate law being made to provide for the independence of CBI and its functional autonomy, as directed by the Supreme Court, concluded its hearing today and would place its recommendations before the Cabinet on June 27.