In Brief
The Supreme Court set aside a High Court order directing CBI investigation into alleged illegal transfers of property belonging to a religious trust in Ranchi. The Court held that while High Courts have constitutional power to direct CBI investigation, this extraordinary power must be exercised only in rare, exceptional circumstances—such as when high state officials are implicated or investigation is compromised. Here, the matter concerned the trustees' rights to sell religious trust property under statutory provisions, a civil dispute inappropriate for Public Interest Litigation. Merely alleging government involvement does not justify CBI direction. The Court emphasized that State Police have primary responsibility to investigate offences within their jurisdiction, and sweeping allegations without prima facie evidence of criminal conduct cannot trigger extraordinary constitutional powers.
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