Bihar curbs CBI jurisdiction, makes state consent mandatory for probes against its staff
Bihar has restricted CBI's investigative powers, requiring state permission for probes against state employees, while exempting central government staff from this rule.
The Bihar government has moved to restrict the investigative jurisdiction of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) within the state, introducing a new requirement for prior state approval before the agency can act against state government employees.
The directive, issued by the Bihar Home Department on September 3, 2026, marks a significant procedural change in how the CBI operates in the state. Under the new rules, the agency will now need explicit consent from the state government before it can initiate any investigation or legal action involving employees of the Bihar government.
However, the notification carves out a clear exception. It explicitly states that the CBI will not require permission from the state government to take action against employees of the Central Government. This distinction ensures that the new restriction applies only to state-level personnel, leaving the agency's mandate over central staff untouched.
The move is likely to have implications for the CBI's functioning in Bihar, particularly in cases where state officials are under scrutiny. By requiring state consent, the government has effectively gained a say in which investigations against its own employees can proceed.
The notification does not specify the reasons behind the decision, nor does it outline any transitional arrangements for ongoing cases. Legal experts and observers will be watching how this change is implemented in practice and whether it leads to any procedural challenges for the agency.