SC reserves order on Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its order on the plea seeking the recall of its December 16, 2015, order appointing former judge of the Allahabad High Court, Justice Virendra Singh, as the Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta.

It said that it was not going to modify its order unless there are very compelling reasons shocking its conscience.

The court reserved its order as it was told that Allahabad High Court Chief Justice D.Y.Chandrachud had "strong reservation" about the "integrity" of Justice Virendra Singh and after a five-hour long meeting on December 15, 2015, his name was dropped from the list of names under consideration.

"Even if we recall our order, we are not going to send it back to constitutional authorities (chief minister, leader of opposition and the chief justice of the high court) (in) 20 months (from April 2014 to November 2015) Lokayukta was not appointed."

"What needs to be done by us, what we have to do will be done," said the bench.

"If we find it (appointment of Justice Virendra Singh as Lokayukta) was not appropriate, we will recall our order and appoint another person," the bench observed as it brushed aside counsel Prashant Bhushan's submission that the chief justice's view enjoyed primacy in the appointment of Lokayukta.

The possibility of the court recalling its order appeared to be dim as Justice Gogoi observed: "Unless there are very compelling reasons, shocking our conscience, we will not modify our order."

Apparently displeased over the course of the events leading to court passing December 16, 2015, order appointing Justice Virendra Singh as Lokayukta and thereafter, the court wanted to know on what basis Chief Justice Chandrachud arrived at a satisfaction expressing reservations on the integrity of Justice Virendra Singh.