Appointment of Lokpal

The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (4) of section 1 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), appointed the 16th day of January, 2014, as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force. 

 

In exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (5) of section 4 of the Act, the Central Government notified the Search Committee (Constitution, Terms and Conditions of appointment of members and the manner of selection of Panel of Names for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal) Rules, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as Search Committee Rules). 

 

A writ petition has been filed by Common Cause, a Registered Society, before the Hon’ble Supreme Court wherein, inter alia, challenge has been made to the validity of the Search Committee Rules. During the course of hearing of the case by the Supreme Court on 5th May, 2014, the Court has been informed that the Government will re-examine the issue and make formal amendments in the Rules and only thereafter proceed further in the matter. Government constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of the Attorney General for India to address the relevant issues related to the amendments to the Search Committee (Constitution, Terms and Conditions of appointment of members and the manner of selection of panel of names for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal) Rules, 2014. The Committee has submitted its report to the Government on 31st July, 2014. This is now required to be processed in consultation with the Ministry of Law. The matter can be processed further only after the amendments are carried out in the Rules as per the undertaking given before the Hon’ble Supreme Court. 

 

Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions gave this information in Lok Sabha today in a written reply to a question by Shri Prem Singh Chandumajra.