New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra to continue in the post till September 15 for FATF review exercise.

In its order, on the Centre's plea to continue the ED Chief till October 15, the Apex Court, however, said that no further extension (of Sanjay Kumar Mishra) would be granted on any circumstances after that.

The Top Court said Mr Mishra shall cease to be the Director of the ED from midnight of September 15-16.

Union of India (UOI) had approached the Supreme Court yesterday seeking a direction of extension of tenure of ED Director till October 15 on the ground to help India maintain its favourable rating by FATF (Financial Action Task Force) which is key to country's ability to maintain its financial capability status in the world.

During the course of the hearing today, the Apex Court bench, headed by Justice B R Gavai, asked the Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta that is there is only one competent person in the entire department.

"Are you not giving a picture that your entire department is full on incompetent people except one?" Justice Gavai asked the SG Mehta, who was pleading to extend the tenure of Mr Mishra till October 15.

Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, senior lawyer for one of the petitioners said that this is like saying heavens will fall if the court does not do it. There is no reason to do this. It sends a wrong message that ED is again and again. There is a third judgment of this court now. Look at the overall picture and stand of union with respect to this is deplorable.

Another lawyer Anup George Chaudhay, for the petitioner, said that let us not make the ED director like a constitutional figurehead.

The Supreme Court in its order had on July 11 quashed the order of granting third extension to ED director Sanjay Kumar Mishra, and ordered him time, till July 31, to relinquish office.

The Apex Court bench, headed by Justice B R Gavai passed the order on a batch of petitions, including those filed by Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala and Jaya Thakur and TMC's Mahua Moitra and Saket Gokhale.

UNI SM CS1703