The Centre on Wednesday moved an “urgent” application for further extending the tenure of Enforcement Directorate chief Sanjay Kumar Mishra, days after the Supreme Court held that his earlier extension itself was “illegal” and he cannot continue beyond July 31.

A bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai agreed to list the application for urgent hearing at 3.30pm on Thursday upon a request made by solicitor-general Tushar Mehta during the morning mentioning time.

The Centre has pleaded that Mishra's services were required for the review of the FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and that his term as ED director be extended till October 15.

According to the Centre, the FATF review is at a crucial stage and an on-site visit is scheduled in November.

It is important that “a person well acquainted with the status of money-laundering investigations be at the helm” during this time, the application has contended.

The Centre has submitted that Mishra has been engaged in the preparation of documents for the “Mutual Evaluation of India” report since the beginning of 2020. Accordingly, his continuation “in this arduous and delicate process is essential”, the petition maintained.

The Mutual Evaluation of India relates to the assessment of technical compliance and effectiveness of the laws being implemented to combat money laundering.

The Centre has told the top court that the FATF review team is scheduled to visit India for three weeks from November 3 and “the intricacies of the complex money-laundering investigation may also need to be explained to them, which can be done only by a person with hands-on experience”.