Apex court says Govt’s reply ‘wholly unsatisfactory’

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction over the Centre’s response on the appointment of search committee members for a Lokpal.

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, R Banumathi and Navin Sinha asked the Centre to file a fresh affidavit giving relevant details of the search committee.

During the hearing, Attorney General K K Venugopal submitted an affidavit and said a meeting of the selection committee was held, but the names for the search committee were not finalised.

He said another meeting would be held soon for appointing members of the search committee, keeping in mind the provisions of law for such appointments.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner NGO Common Cause, said the Centre had not specified the date of the next meeting, and they are delaying the appointment of a Lokpal despite the passage of law nearly five years ago.

He said contempt action should be initiated against authorities concerned or the court may proceed ahead for appointing the Lokpal by exercising its power under Article 142 of the Constitution (enforcement of decrees and orders of the Supreme Court).

The bench, in its order, said it was unsatisfied with the Centre’s reply and sought a fresh affidavit in four weeks giving all necessary details.

The Centre had earlier told the apex court that the Lokpal selection committee, headed by the prime minister, was scheduled to meet to set up a search panel for recommending a panel of names for the appointment of the anti-graft ombudsman and its members.

The committee comprises the prime minister, the chief justice of India, the Lok Sabha speaker, the leader of the largest opposition party and an eminent jurist.