Patna unit of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has finally got a permanent joint director. A.K. Singh, a 1990-batch IPS officer of Sikkim cadre, has joined as the new joint director of the CBI’s Patna zone, which comprises Bihar and Jharkhand.

Earlier, joint director of Lucknow zone Javeed Ahmad was holding the additional charge of Patna zone.

Singh, who assumed charge in the headquarters in Delhi on Monday, had earlier served as deputy inspector-general (DIG), CBI, in Ranchi before he was repatriated to his parent cadre from central deputation in July 2009.

The post of the joint director of Patna zone was created on July 27, 2009. Ahmad was appointed its first joint director.

Singh, said to be a resident of Punpun in Patna district, was serving as director, vigilance, in Sikkim before he was given the new assignment in Patna. Singh, who arrived in the state capital today, reviewed the high profile cases pending for investigation with the Patna unit and issued necessary instructions for their speedy disposal.

Sources in the CBI said about 450 cases were pending for disposal in Bihar, including the murder of Gopalganj jail doctor Budhdeo Singh and transporter Santosh Tekriwal. The appointment of a permanent joint director would help the investigating agency expedite the process of investigation, an officer said.

He said the officials had to wait for several weeks for guidelines from the acting joint director on important cases.

“Though he used to visit Patna from time to time, he mostly discharged routine work,” the officer said.

Sources said there had been substantial increase in the number of special reported cases in both Bihar and Jharkhand in the recent past. On an average 30-35 cases under Prevention of Corruption Act were lodged by the anti-corruption wing of the CBI in Bihar. Of them, only 15-20 cases were disposed of every year, resulting in piling up of the cases for investigation.

The state government in August 2011 notified the constitution of three additional Special CBI courts in the state for speedy disposal of the pending cases.

“We have requested the government through proper channel to appoint permanent judges in the special CBI court so that trial is conducted on a priority basis,” a senior officer said.