Ask Delhi government to appoint Lokayukta, says plea in HC

A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking directions for the AAP government to fill up the post of lokayukta, which has been lying vacant since November 2013.

The PIL filed by Sat Prakash Rana, a former legislator, said that though the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government assumed charge on February 14, it has not yet taken any steps for the appointment of the Lokayukta and Uplokayukta here.

The plea filed against the Arvind Kejriwal government, Lt.Governor Najeeb Jung and central government sought "immediate appointment" of Lokayukta saying the non-appointment is "adding to the pendency of cases and more importantly, has blocked a legal right of the residents of Delhi".

The plea said the petitioner made enquiries at the office of the Lokayukta, which is currently a functional office, and where complaints and petitions are being accepted on a daily basis.

"That in other words, public money is being expended in running the office of the Lokayukta, without there being any Lokayukta to justify the expenditure. This amounts to a significant waste of public money, for which the Delhi government and LG are squarely responsible," the plea stated.

"In view of the importance of the Lokayukta, the inaction by the Delhi government and LG for 18 long months is astounding, and a clear reflection of the lack of respect that they have for existing laws and democratic institutions," it said.

The office of the Lokayukta has been made a "pawn in a political game" and the government "does not wish" to fill the vacancy, it claimed.

On September 26 last year, the Delhi High Court while hearing a different PIL on same issue had asked the lt.governor to initiate the process to fill the post of Lokayukta saying the statutory provisions make it mandatory on the part of the state to ensure that the post is filled up "without any delay".