Ex-Justice Sekhon takes oath as Punjab Lokpal

After taking oath at a brief ceremony held at Raj Bhawan, Sekhon said among his immediate priorities would be to ensure fast disposal of the cases.

The Congress had said that for the sake of "moral and judicial propriety" Justice Sekhon should have declined to be the Punjab Lokpal as his brother Janmeja Singh Sekhon is a minister in the Punjab government.

PCC President Capt Amarinder Singh in a letter written to the Governor with a copy to the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, said, "a state Lokpal is required to be an autonomous, independent-minded, unbiased and politically uncoloured individual mandated and empowered by the provisions of The Punjab Lokpal Act,1996 to investigate and inquire into complaints of misconduct and corruption.

"It is therefore most imperative and required that such Lokpal be a person free of all political associations, affiliations, connections and colour".

There is a clear and patent conflict of interest between the personal life and familial affiliations of Justice Sekhon, on the one hand and his duties and functions as an independent and autonomous Lokpal, on the other hand," he said.

However, in a brief chat with reporters after taking oath, Justice Sekhon said, "I have no political affiliation though my brother is a Cabinet Minister...I will administer whatever my powers are impartially".

When asked to comment on Congress raking up Justice Sekhon's appointment in the context of him being a relative of a Punjab Minister, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said, "Judge ka koyee relation nahee hota, Judge means Judge (Judges have no relation while discharging duties, Judge is above every relation)".

The Chief Minister said that even some serving Judges have relatives in different political parties. MORE