The Centre has invited applications from States to suggest eligible persons to head the lokpal and fill up the eight-member panel constituting the anti-graft watchdog, the first in the country’s history. The last date for applications to reach the Centre is February 7.
“Government has invited applications for filing up a post of chairperson and eight posts of members of lokpal. Four posts are reserved for judicial members,” a senior official in the Ministry of Personnel said. A letter seeking nominations of eligible officers has been sent to the Registrars of Supreme Court and the high courts. “Centre has also written to the Chief Secretaries of State Governments,” he added.
The applications have to be addressed to the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the official said, on or before February 7. The lokpal and lokayuktas Act 2013 came into effect this year after it got the Presidential assent on January 1 this year. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on December 17, 2013 followed by lok Sabha the next day.
The Act provides for the establishment of a lokpal for the Union and lokayuktas for the States to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries. It has under its purview even the Prime Minister, albeit with certain safeguards. A chairperson and eight members would constitute the lokpal.