Centre told to spell out time frame for appointing Lokpal

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to spell out the time frame within which it would appoint the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal in the country.

A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R. Banumathi asked attorney-general K.K. Venugopal not to drag and file an affidvit in 10 days giving details about the steps taken and the time frame for Lokpal appointment.  

Mr Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, informed the bench about the appointment of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi as eminent jurist in the selection committee for appointment of the Lokpal.

He said senior advocate P.P. Rao was appointed as an eminent jurist in the panel, but the post became vacant after he passed away last year. He said the selection committee would have to set up a “search committee” to select Lokpal and other members.

The A-G said, “I have received instructions to state that the selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be meeting soon in this regard.”

The bench hearing a contempt petition filed by Common Cause through advocate Prashant Bhushan for not implementing the April 2017 verdict of the apex court in appointing Lokpal, asked the A-G to expedite the process of appointment of Lokpal and posted the matter for further hearing on July 17.