Delhi Lokayukta by October 28, HC told

The Delhi High Court on Monday was informed by the city government that it is in the process to fill up the post of Lokayukta, lying vacant since November 2013, and will be done by October 28.

Justice R.S. Endlaw was informed by the Delhi government counsel Gautam Narayan that the appointment would be made by the next date of hearing on October 28, and opposing the petition of Vijender Gupta, leader of opposition in the Delhi assembly, asking that he be consulted on the appointment issue.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for central government, sought time to file a response in the matter.

The court was hearing a plea filed by former legislator Sat Prakash Rana, who sought directions to fill up the post of Lokayukta.

The plea said that though the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government assumed charge on February 14, it had not yet taken steps for the appointment of the Lokayukta and Uplokayukta in the national capital, even after a lapse of 19 months.

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