SC allows extension of ED director Sanjay Kumar Mishra's tenure till Sept 15

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the extension of Enforcement Directorate Director Sanjay Mishra's tenure until September 15. The Centre on Wednesday moved the apex court seeking ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra's continuance till October 15, saying his absence during the ongoing FATF review will adversely impact India's national interests. The Centre also emphasised that Mishra, 63, has been engaged in preparation of documents and fulfilling other requirements for mutual evaluation since the beginning of the year 2020 and, accordingly, his continuation in this arduous and delicate process at this «critical stage» is essential.

The Financial Action Task Force(FATF) is a global body that leads action to tackle money laundering and terror financing. The top court had on July 11 held as «illegal» two successive extensions of one year each granted to Mishra and said the Centre's orders were in «breach» of its mandamus in the 2021 verdict that the IRS officer should not be given further term. It had also curtailed Mishra's extended tenure to July 31 from November.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench of Justices BR Gavai, Hima Kohli and Prashant Kumar Mishra that the government has moved an application seeking modification of the apex court's July 11 verdict. «There is some urgency with regard to that matter. We request urgent listing of the miscellaneous application,» Mehta told the bench.

Justice Gavai said the July 11 verdict was pronounced by a three bench, also comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol, and currently they are sitting in different combinations. «Let the registry request the Chief Justice of India for constituting a bench,» Justice Gavai told Mehta. A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath