Lok Sabha Question No. 538 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-06
Subject: Appointment of Lokpal
Ministry: PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS (DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 538

(TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2019)

## APPOINTMENT OF LOKPAL

## 538. SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) the present status of appointment of Lokpal;
- (b) the reasons for the delay in appointment of Lokpal; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for appointment of Lokpal without further delay?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

(a)  to  (c):    The  Lokpal  and  Lokayuktas  Act,  2013    (1  of  2014)  as  brought  into  force w.e.f.16.01.2014 for establishing of a body of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the States, requires some amendments, inter-alia, so as to provide for situations where the composition of the Selection Committee is deficient/incomplete due to absence of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, etc. Accordingly, Lokpal & Lokayuktas and other related law (amendment) Bill 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 18.12.2014 reported upon by the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice. The varied recommendations  made  in  the  said  report  inter-alia  making  recommendation  relating  to architecture  of  anti-corruption  institution  of  the  country.  Government  has  constituted  an  Inter Ministerial  Committee  and  six  meetings  of  the  said  Inter  Ministerial  Committee  (IMC)  have already been held. Further, in view of the Apex Court's decision in the matter of Common Causea  registered  society,  wherein  it  was  observed  that  the  law  as  it  stands  today  is  an  eminently workable  piece  of  legislation,  the  Selection  Committee  was  reconstituted  as  per  the  statutory provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. Upon the recommendations of the Selection committee, Hon'ble President has nominated Shri Mukul Rohatgi, former Attorney General of India as 'Eminent Jurist'  Member of the Selection Committee to fill the vacancy caused due to passing away of Shri P.P. Rao.

Six meetings of the Selection Committee under section 4(1) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 have been held under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Prime Minister as part of the due process  of  appointment  of  Chairperson  and  Members  of  the  Lokpal  in  terms  of  the  relevant provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, i.e. as per the provisions of section 3 of the said Act.

In its sixth Meeting held on 19 th September, 2018, a Search Committee comprising of eight (8) Members has been constituted.  Smt. Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai has been nominated as the Chairperson by the Selection Committee.

The  Search  Committee  has  the  responsibility  of  preparing  panel(s)  of  names  to  be considered  for  being  appointed  as  Chairperson  and  Members  of  the  Lokpal,  by  the  Selection Committee.  The Search Committee, in terms of the provisions of sub-rule (3) of rule 10 of 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, may, for the purpose of shortlisting of persons, adopt such short-listing norms as it may be considered appropriate. A meeting of Search Committee has been held on 29 th January, 2019.

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