The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Centre to apprise it of a time frame for appointing an anti-corruption ombudsman in the country. Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R Banumathi asked the government to file an affidavit within 10 days, detailing the steps likely to be taken for appointing the Lokpal, PTI reported.
The court was hearing a contempt of court petition filed by non-governmental organisation Common Cause, which has pointed out that a Lokpal is yet to be appointed despite the top court’s verdict on April 27, 2017. The top court had said that the legislation passed to appoint the Lokpal was a workable one and there was no need for the Centre to keep its implementation pending due to pending amendments in the Lokpal Act.
In May, the Centre told the top court that it has appointed senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi to the selection committee, which is chaired by the prime minister.
Attorney General KK Venugopal on Monday placed before the Supreme Court the government’s written instructions on the appointment. The judges posted the matter for further hearing on July 17.
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