The Union Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Group of Ministers, GoM, on CBI autonomy yesterday.

The GoM chaired by Finance Minister P Chidambaram and comprising Law Minister Kapil Sibal, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy had concluded its deliberations on Monday.

Sources said, the GoM has recommended constitution of a panel of retired judges to monitor the investigations undertaken by the agency so that probes remain free from external influence.

It has also recommended increase in financial powers of the CBI Director and a new mechanism for the appointment of the Director (Prosecution) which is at present a Law Ministry appointee.

The recommendations will be part of the affidavit to be filed before the Supreme Court early next week which would hear the matter on July 10.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA approved hike in prices of domestically produced natural gas from 4.2 dollars per Million Metric British Thermal Unit, MMBTU to 8.4 dollars from 1st April next year.

Sources said, the new price will apply uniformly to all producers in public and private sectors. This will be the first revision in gas prices in three years. The move will result in rise in power tariff, urea cost and CNG prices.