PRAYAGRAJ, July 28 -- : The Allahabad high court has observed that a trial court cannot direct an investigating agency, such as the CBI, to ensure that sanction for the prosecution of a public servant is obtained, as such a direction virtually amounts to directing the competent sanctioning authority to grant sanction, which is impermissible in law. This observation was made by Justice Raj Beer Singh while allowing a quashing petition filed by former Saharanpur district magistrate Pawan Kumar, challenging an order of the special judge, CBI, Ghaziabad refusing to accept a CBI closure report and directing the agency to obtain prosecution sanction against him in connection with the alleged illegal renewal of sand mining leases in Saharanpur. Allowing the petition filed by Pawan Kumar, the high court set aside the order of special judge, CBI insofar as it related to Kumar, who is posted as director in the department of rural development, Delhi. P2...