SC seeks time frame for appointing Lokpal

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Central government to spell out the steps needed to be taken for the appointment of a Lokpal and the time frame that each step will require to be completed.

A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R. Banumathi sought the details as Attorney General K.K. Venugopal said the selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet shortly to decide on the next step.

The court said the competent authority will file an affidavit indicating the steps and the time each step will take in the course of the appointment of the Lokpal.

Venugopal told the court that the Joint Secretary of Department of Personnel and Training was the competent authority.

Giving 10 days to file the affidavit, the court directed the next hearing on July 17.

Appearing for NGO Common Cause, senior counsel Shanti Bhushan referred to Section 3 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 that says "on and from the commencement of this Act, there shall be established for the purposes of this Act a body called 'Lokpal'".

Pointing out that over four and a half year have passed since the law came into force and there was no Lokpal, Bhushan urged the court to take recourse to its powers under the Constitution's Article 142 and appoint a Lokpal till one is appointed following the laid down procedure.

--IANS

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