NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday gave retrospective effect to a 2014 ruling that the CBI did not need the Centre's prior permission to investigate corruption cases against central government employees. The decision was made regarding corruption cases against officials from the Joint Secretary upwards. The five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Justice SK Kaul gave retrospective effect to the verdict in the Subramanian Swamy case.

The judgment will also apply to corruption cases before 2014. There will be no situation where the accused will be acquitted saying that there is no prior permission of the Centre. In 2014, the Supreme Court had struck down Section 6A(1) of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. The provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act required the permission of the central government for CBI investigations against officials from the central joint secretary and above.