The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has written to the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Shri Arun Jaitley on the appointment of the CBI director.

The text of the letter is as follows:

"I have received a letter dated 23 November, 2012 signed by Smt. Sushma Swaraj and yourself regarding the appointment of Director, CBI.

As you are aware, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill 2011 is still awaiting passage in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill was referred to a Select Committee which has tabled its report today in the Rajya Sabha. Many changes have been suggested by the Select Committee which are required to be considered by the Government for introducing official amendments. After the Bill asamended is duly passed by the Rajya Sabha, it will be returned to the Lok Sabha for further consideration.

In the meanwhile, the tenure of the present incumbent on the post of Director, CBI is ending on 30 November, 2012, Even as we will make all possible efforts to enact the new law at the earliest, you would agree that a premier investigating agency like the CBI cannot be left without an administrative head pending the enactment. Under the circumstances the Government has, in public interest, made the appointment in accordance with the provisions of the CVC Act as presently applicable and the extant procedures, which had been set in motion much earlier.

The insinuation that the appointment was made to preempt the procedure recommended by the Select Committee is wholly unwarranted and devoid of any merit. I also refute the suggestion that the appointments to this post in the past by the UPA Government were motivated by collateral considerations.

In view of the above, the question of keeping the new appointment in abeyance does not arise."