Lokpal: NGO moves plea in SC for stay on selection process

An NGO today moved a fresh plea in the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the entire selection process for appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal, saying that government was going ahead with it despite the apex court being seized of the issue.
"It is submitted that the latest move by the Government to proceed with the appointment of the Chairperson and members of the Lokpal, even while this Court is seized of the issue of the validity of the Rules framed under the Lokpal Act, is not only highly improper but also illegal and arbitrary," the application said.

The NGO filed the fresh plea following apex court's oral observation during an hearing earlier in which the bench had said if it comes across any such development(by the government so far as the selection of Lokpal and its members was concerned), it would be at liberty to approach this court for interim directions.
In its application, NGO Common Cause said it has come to know that on April 11, the Prime Minister had asked all the members of the Lokpal Selection Committee to inform about their availability so that a meeting of the panel could be held.
The application also said the government was going ahead with the selection process in spite of "serious flaws" in the rules of selection and sought to declare "illegal" the rules under which selections are being done.

The petitioner further submitted that "despite the fact that the Rules under which the Chairperson and Members of Lokpal are to be appointed are under challenge in the present writ petition and that this Court has already issued notice and fixed May 5 as the next date of hearing, the Government is pushing ahead with the process of appointment of the Chairperson and Members of the Lokpal.