CENTRE GETS DEADLINE ON NEW LOKPAL
Court gives Centre 10 days to explain steps taken so far
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to spell out the time frame within which it would appoint the anticorruption ombudsman Lokpal in the country.
A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and Ms R. Banumathi asked the Attorney General K.K. Venugopal not to drag and file an affidavit in 10 days giving details about the steps taken and the time frame for Lokpal appointment.
Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench about the appointment of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, as eminent jurist in the selection committee for appointment of the Lokpal. He said senior advocate P.P. Rao was appointed as an eminent jurist in the panel, but the post became vacant after he passed away last year.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to spell out the time frame within which it would appoint the anticorruption ombudsman Lokpal in the country.
A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R. Banumathi asked attorney-general K.K. Venugopal not to drag and file an affidvit in 10 days giving details about the steps taken and the time frame for Lokpal appointment.
Mr Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench about the appointment of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi as eminent jurist in the selection committee for appointment of the Lokpal.
He said senior advocate P. P. Rao was appointed as an eminent jurist in the panel, but the post became vacant after he passed away last year. He said the selection committee would have to set up a ‘search committee’ to select Lokpal and other members. “I have received instructions to state that the selection committee headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting soon this regard,” the A-G said.
The Bench hearing a contempt petition filed by Common Cause through advocate Prashant Bhushan for not implementing the April 2017 verdict of the court in appointing Lokpal, asked the A-G to expedite the process of appointment and posted the matter for further hearing on July 17.
In April 2017, the apex court acting on a writ petition filed by Common Cause asked the Centre to set up the Lokpal under the 2013 law without waiting for Parliament approval of the standing committee’s suggestion for amending it to include leader of single largest party in the place of leader of the Opposition to be part of the search committee.