HC notice to Delhi government on non-appointment of Lokayukta

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the AAP government in Delhi on a plea seeking directions to fill up the post of lokayukta, which has been lying vacant since November 2013.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher also issued notice to the Centre, lieutenant governor of Delhi and chief minister and sought their respective responses by July 24.

Hearing the plea filed by Sat Prakash Rana, a former legislator, the court asked government to fill the post "as soon as possible".

"The quicker you (Delhi government) do, the better it would be," the court said.

The Delhi government counsel told the court that to fill the post of lokayukta, the Centre's nod was needed.

The petitioner told the court 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, even after a lapse of 18 months.

The plea 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".

On September 26 last year, the Delhi High Court, while hearing a different PIL on the same issue, had asked the lieutenant 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 "without any delay".