SC judge expresses surprise that he is in race to be Lokpal

Supreme Court judge Justice R M Lodha today expressed surprise over a media report that he is in the race to be the first Lokpal of the country.

While hearing a PIL on issue of use of red beacon, Justice Lodha, in a lighter vein, said "I have not even demitted office. They have named me in the race for Lokpal."

Justice Lodha is the seniormost judge of the apex court after Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and set to be the next CJI.

Another apex court judge Justice H L Dattu is likely to be one of the members of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led selection panel to choose chairperson and members for the anti-corruption body Lokpal.

The CJI is understood to have nominated Justice Dattu as one of the members of the selection committee.

The committee has as its members the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him and an eminent jurist who could be nominated by the President or any of the members.

Dattu, who was elevated to the apex court on December 17, 2008, is the third seniormost judge after the CJI and Justice Lodha.