The Government has tied hands of ministers sitting over the sanction sought by the CBI for prosecuting the senior bureaucrats above the rank of joint secretary at the Centre, through an office memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and training.

The memorandum seeks to dilute Section 6A of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act that provides safeguards to the senior bureaucrats against any undue and vexatious harassment by the investigating agency.

Citing instances where the CBI's requests for prosecution are not accorded due priority and their examination lacks objectivity, the memorandum says the minister in charge, who is the competent authority in these cases, will not have to decide the matter with a "speaking order" within three months of the CBI request, accompanied with relevant documents, and put up any refusal of permission to the Prime Minister within one week of such a decision.

It says the Government is revising rules on the recommendation of the Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Pranab Mukherjee, on corruption.