HC asks Lt Governor to start process to appoint Lokayukta

The Delhi High Court today asked Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to initiate "forthwith" the process of selecting the Lokayukta saying the statutory provisions require that the post of the anti-corruption watchdog is "filled up without any delay".
Referring to the "doctrine of necessity", a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw said that the process can be started even without the "aid and advice" of the council of ministers.
"We, therefore, request the Lt Governor, Delhi, to forthwith initiate the process of filling up of the vacancy in the Office of the Lokayukta, Delhi," it said, adding the post has been vacant for more than 10 months and it is against the legal provisions.

Relying on the Supreme Court's judgments, it said "we draw strength to observe that the Lt Governor, Delhi, even without the aid and advice of the council of ministers would be entitled in the present situation to proceed with the filling up of the vacancy in the Office of the Lokayukta, Delhi.