THE tension was palpable at the Supreme Court's packed court number one last week. In a fresh salvo, the no-nonsense hawala bench, presided over by Chief Justice J.S. Verma, ordered the government to respond to a proposal that would ensure greater autonomy to investigative agencies. In effect, it meant the court was ready to take on the administrative function of reorganising Central agencies like the CBI, the Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate to ensure their freedom from political interference. The message was clear: in the new power-game between the arms of the Republic, the judiciary would like to set the rules. Literally.