Lokpal: SC seeks Centre's response on NGO's plea

The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on a petition filed by an NGO questioning the entire selection process for appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal and seeking its stay.

A bench of justices R M Lodha and Kurian Joseph issued notice and asked the Centre to justify within four weeks the Search Committee (Constitution, Terms and Conditions of appointment of members and manner of selection of Panel of names for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal) Rules, 2014 framed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2014.

Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, who was present in the court, accepted the notice on behalf of the Centre.

The plea of NGO Common Cause, filed through advocate Prashant Bhushan, has sought to declare "illegal" the rules under which selections are being done.

The PIL has sought a declaration that certain provisions of the rules are ultra vires of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act and also sought quashing of the entire selection process initiated under the rules alleging that it is "illegal, arbitrary" and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

It has said that the government is going ahead with the selection process despite there being serious flaws in the rules under which selections are being done.

"Justice K T Thomas and Fali Nariman, who were offered the post of the chairman and member of the Search Committee respectively, have already declined to accept the offers on these very grounds," the petition has said.

"Therefore, if the selection process of the Lokpal is not stayed during the pendency of the present writ petition, it would be rendered infructuous and public interest would suffer," it has said.