The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) may soon issue a notification regarding amendments to the mandate of the Lokpal Search Committee for recommendations of candidates for the appointment of the Lokpal.
Following allegations of a flawed selection procedure, the government had earlier decided to amend the selection rules framed under the Lokpal Act. The amendments were to be carried out in consonance with the report of a three-member committee set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In its report, the committee headed by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi had faulted the present selection rule stating that it was ultra vires and if implemented, it would compromise the independence and impartiality of the selection process and ultimate appointment.
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Under the present rules, the search committee will shortlist a panel of candidates for consideration by the Prime Minister-led selection committee for appointment of the chairperson and eight members of the Lokpal.
The Rohatgi committee had also suggested reduction in the number of the search committee from eight to seven. It recommended that the committee would devise its own procedure in forming the panel of proposed candidates independently and that the government would only render assistance to the search committee.
Faulting the selection procedure, Justice K.T. Thomas, as the head of the committee, and senior advocate Fali Nariman, as its member, had opted out.
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Following amendments, the search committee may be vested with the power to make recommendations other than the names suggested by the DoPT, for final consideration by the selection committee.