The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be headless when its director Ranjit Sinha retires on December 2. Sinha's successor can be chosen only under the new Lokpal Act, which however has to be amended.

According to the Lokpal Act, a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha will select the CBI director. However, the government has decided to amend the Delhi special police establishment (DSPE) act that governs the working of the agency, to bring the leader of largest party in opposition in the selection panel in place of leader of opposition.

Highly placed sources in the HRD ministry say that the government will bring an amendment to the Lokpal Act during the Winter session of Parliament to be convened on November 24. The government cannot issue an ordinance as the decision to convene the parliament session has already been made.