Establishment of Jan Lokpal

The Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 59 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, notified 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 on January 17, 2014. A writ petition has been filed by Common Cause, a Registered Society, before the Supreme Court wherein, inter alia, challenge has been made to the validity of the Search Committee Rules. During the course of hearing of the case by the Supreme Court on May 05, 2014, the Court was informed that the Government will re-examine the issue and make formal amendments in the Rules and only thereafter proceed further in the matter. Accordingly, Government examined the mater and necessary amendments in the Search Committee Rules have since been notified in the official Gazette on August 27, 2014. 

 

A number of writ petitions have also been filed in various High Courts, challenging, inter alia, certain provisions of the Act and the Search Committee Rules. Government has filed applications before the Supreme Court for transfer of these writ petitions to the Supreme Court so as to get authoritative pronouncement on all these issues, so that the institution of Lokpal can be made functional at the earliest. Under the circumstances, no specific time-line has been fixed for making appointments in the Lokpal. 

 

This was stated by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions in a written reply to Shri A.U. Singh Deo in Rajya Sabha today.