New Delhi, Jan. 15 -- The Supreme Court's split verdict on Tuesday on the constitutional validity of Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act has once again brought into focus a prolonged and unresolved legal battle over how far the State can go in insulating its officials from criminal investigation. With justices BV Nagarathna and KV Viswanathan delivering sharply divergent opinions, the issue now stands referred to the Chief Justice of India for constitution of a larger bench. The reference marks the latest chapter in a saga stretching back over five decades - one marked by repeated attempts by the government of the day to build protective barriers around bureaucrats, and equally consistent judicial resistance to any mechanis...