Overview
- A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi set aside the High Court’s direction for a CBI enquiry into alleged irregularities in 2020–21 recruitments to the UP legislative secretariats.
- The Court held that directing a CBI investigation is a measure of last resort, justified only in exceptional cases where state agencies appear compromised or fundamental rights are implicated.
- It clarified that such orders require prima facie disclosure of offences or compelling factors like systemic failure, involvement of high-ranking officials, national ramifications, or doubtful local police conduct.
- Recruitment disputes should not ordinarily trigger CBI probes unless the facts are so abnormal that they shake the court’s conscience, the judgment cautioned.
- The case was remanded to the Allahabad High Court for rehearing, with the Supreme Court noting the earlier suo motu move and reliance on assumptions, and no CBI inquiry will proceed under the quashed order.