The on-going tussle between Raj Bhawan and the UP Government over appointment of lokayukta took a new turn on Thursday when Akhilesh Government re-constituted the selection panel dropping Chief Justice and replacing him with Speaker and a retired judge of the Supreme Court or High Court.
The Opposition opposed this amendment saying this decision shows disrespect to the judiciary. The BSP, BJP and Congress later staged a walkout when the Amendment Bill was put to voice vote.
The decision to bring an amendment in the Uttar Pradesh lokayukta and Up-lokayukta Act was sudden. The Government brought a supplementary agenda to amend the said Act to re-constitute the selection panel from three member committee to four-member committee.
The amendment bill came after Governor Ram Naik had returned Government’s recommendation for appointment of Justice (Retd) Ravindra Singh as next lokayukta. In his last letter, Governor had quoted Chief Justice’s objections to the name of Justice Singh as new lokayukta as he was close to ruling party and his relatives were in standing counsels.
The Government found an easy way out and excluded Chief Justice from the selection panel. The new committee comprises Chief Minister as Chairperson of the committee, Speaker of the Assembly and leader of Opposition in the State Assembly as members. Chairman of the committee will select retired judge of the High Court or Supreme Court as the fourth member.
The Government claims there is nothing new in this system as such provisions are there in other States like Kerala and Manipur.
Earlier, the selection committee comprised the CM, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly and Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court.
leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya termed the bill as unconstitutional and undemocratic. “This act of the Government has put ‘black spot’ on the political career of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav,” he said.