Former Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi has been appointed “eminent jurist” in the high-profile Lokpal selection committee led by the Prime Minister, which will shortlist candidates for appointment as the anti-corruption ombudsman.
Attorney-General K.K. Venugopal informed a Bench led by Justice Ranjan Gogoi about the appointment.
The selection committee has been meeting on the question of induction of an eminent jurist after the demise of senior advocate P.P. Rao. Mr. Venugopal said the panel finally zeroed in on Mr. Rohatgi, who is a senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court. As the government’s top law officer. Mr. Rohatgi had steered the government side through many court battles, including the NJAC and the early days of Aadhaar challenge in the apex court.
Significant step
The filling of the slot of eminent jurist is a significant step in the appointment process of the Lokpal as per the statute.
The court has urged the government to complete the Lokpal appointment process at the earliest.
Besides the Prime Minister, the selection committee is composed of the Chief Justice of India and the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Though passed in 2014, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act of 2013 was not implemented all these years because there was no Leader of the Opposition in the 16th Lok Sabha. The 2013 statute includes the Leader of the Opposition as a member of the selection committee.
However, on April 27 last year, the Supreme Court, in a judgment, clarified that the Lokpal appointment process need not be stalled merely due to the absence of the Leader of the Opposition.
