Supreme Court Judges Split on Anti-Corruption Law, CJI Suryakant to Intervene

• A two-judge Supreme Court bench delivered a split verdict on Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
• Section 17A mandates prior government approval before investigating a public servant.
• Justice BV Nagarathna declared Section 17A unconstitutional, stating it protects corrupt individuals.
• Justice KV Viswanathan upheld Section 17A, but with the condition that sanction decisions be made by autonomous bodies like Lokpal or Lokayukta.
• Due to the split verdict, the matter has been referred to the CJI's bench for a larger bench hearing.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court judges split on anti-corruption law's Section 17A, requiring CJI intervention for a larger bench.