Lucknow: Amidst the ongoing tug of war between the UP government and the Governor over appointment of Lokayukta, the state legislature today passed a bill amending the Lokayukta Act by dropping HC Chief Justice from the selection committee. The Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015, also seeks to make the panel a four-member body of Chief Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Speaker and a retired judge.
The retired judge, who would be the fourth member, would be selected in consultation with Chief Minister and Speaker. The legislation was introduced on the last day of the monsoon session of the state legislature against the backdrop of the tussle between the Governor and the Chief Minister on the appointment of justice (retd) Ravindra Singh as Lokayukta, with the file recommending his name moving back and forth five times.
After passage of the bill in the Assembly, it was sent to the Upper House, which too approved it by voice vote amid walkout by BSP members, who demanded that it should be referred to the select committee. Governor Ram Naik had refused to give his nod on the ground that no proper meeting of the three-member selection committee was held and also because Allahabad High Court Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had expressed reservations citing Singh’s proximity to the ruling Samajwadi Party.
The bill, moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Azam Khan, was passed by voice vote in the Lower House amid walkout by BSP, BJP and Congress members.
