After a strong protest by the BJP, the UPA Government has put on hold the proposed meeting to select the lokpal. On Thursday, the top law officer of the Government informed the Supreme Court that the proposed meeting of the lokpal Selection Committee this weekend will not take place. This implies that for all practical purposes, the Government has dropped its intentions to appoint the lokpal, leaving the task to the next Government.
On April 11, the Prime Minister (PM) sought to know the convenience of the Selection Committee members to be present at the meeting to be held this week. Besides the PM, the committee comprises leader of Opposition in lok Sabha, lok Sabha Speaker, a nominee of Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist.
A BJP delegation last week submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission (EC) urging it to direct the Government to put on hold the selection of the lokpal and the Army chief during the elections.Appearing before a Bench of Justices RM lodha and MY Eqbal, Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran said that the meeting of the Selection Committee will not be held, putting the controversy to rest. The statement came on an application by the NGO Common Cause in a pending PIl where the provisions of the lokpal and lokayuktas Act 2013 are under challenge.
The selection of lokpal, which is to be the first-ever anti-corruption ombudsman in the country, has already encountered several hiccups as an eight-member Search Committee that is to aid the Selection Committee to appoint the lokpal, recently faced fresh vacancies.The Chairman of the Search Committee, Justice KT Thomas, a former judge of the Supreme Court had resigned last month after noted jurist Fali Nariman expressed his unwillingness to be part of this process. Both cited their discomfiture to be in a panel meant to approve the names forwarded by the Government without being able to conduct an independent search.
The application by Common Cause wondered why the Centre was keen to call a meeting with just a month remaining for them in office. It said: “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 apex bench recorded the statement of Parasaran and directed the PIl to be listed for hearing on May 5. While issuing a notice on the PIl, the apex court had indicated to the petitioner, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, to approach the court in the event of any development (by the Government) to appoint a lokpal and its members.