A Parliamentary panel has recommended statutory powers to CBI in dealing with corruption cases throughout the country without the states' concurrence. The Panel said that though a federal legislation, the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 is in place, which provides for an investigation agency at the national level to investigate and prosecute certain class of offences.It said,the Committee is of the considered view that a legislation may be proposed on similar lines, to give an effective statutory backing to CBI, which is a dire need of the hour, while taking care that the basic features of the Constitution are not compromised.

The panel had sought the opinion of the Attorney General on whether CBI could launch prosecution on offences related to matters in the Union List of the Constitution.

The AG had then opined to identify the specific matters.

The panel took note of the Attorney General's opinion,

but suggested the government to consider the legislation close on the lines of the NIA Act, 2008 to authorise CBI to probe and prosecute graft-related offences only.

The Committee, in its report on demands for grants (2012-13) of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and

Pensions, also asked the government to ensure that CBI's
modernisation plan should not be hampered due to budgetary constraints.