Guv again returns file to UP govt on Lokayukta appointment

The tussle between the Uttar Pradesh Governor and the state government over the appointment of Lokayukta intensified today with Ram Naik returning the file in this regard for the fifth time, asserting he was not bound to accept the Cabinet's recommendation.
As the stalemate over the Lokayukta appointment continued, Naik asked the Akhilesh Yadav government to send any other name except Justice (retd) Ravindra Singh after following due procedure.
The Governor, while returning the file, said he was not bound to toe the Cabinet's decision on appointment of Lokayukta as it has it own process of appointment and the Cabinet has no role in it, a Raj Bhawan spokesman said here.

"The Governor has written letters to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Leader of the Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya and the High Court Chief Justice and expected them to soon send a name of Lokayukta except Justice (retd) Ravindra Singh keeping in mind the Supreme Court's directive in this regard and after proper discussion," he said.
"For appointment of Lokayukta, the constitutional requirement of discussion was not fulfilled legally. According to the Leader of the Opposition, there was no discussion or agreement on any name for Lokayukta and members of the selection committee were unaware what letters were exchanged or discussions held," the Governor said.

The Chief Justice in his opinion about Singh said that due to his alleged closeness with the ruling party, the work of the Lokayukta could be affected. Hence, recommending his name was not appropriate, he said.

It is for the fifth time that the Governor, who consulted legal experts during the last two days and closely examined the reply of the state government, was returning the file.
In its latest reply, the government stated that there was only a two-member committee comprising the Chief Minister and the Leader of the Opposition for the selection of Lokayukta and the two had already held a meeting.

As far as the role of the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court is concerned, the selection panel had just to consult him, the government contended.
"The Chief Justice has already been consulted. But the government is not bound by his advice and opinion," the government said in its reply.
Leader of the Opposition and member of the selection committee Swami Prasad Maurya, however, insisted that consensus of all the three members was mandatory for the selection of the Lokayukta.