Embroiled in drama and politics, Uttar Pradesh hasn’t managed to appoint the state Lokayukta in over a year. The Supreme Court intervened and chose Justice (Retd) Virendra Singh, a former judge of the Allahabad High Court, from a list of names sent by the Samajwadi Party government for the post.
Reacting to the appointment, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud of Allahabad High Court protested and wrote to Governor Ram Naik about the inclusion of Justice Virendra Singh’s name in the list sent to the Supreme Court. He said this was done despite his objections and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s assurance that Singh would not be on the panel.
The Lokayukta is chosen by a selection committee that comprises the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of the High Court.
The selection process was decidedly fishy, according to documents accessed byThe Indian Express. For example:
When Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya met on 28 January 2015 to consider a name for Lokayukta, the list before them included at least 30 dead judges. The oldest among them had retired in 1951.
The report suggests there were 396 names for consideration: 41 former Chief Justices of India, 28 sitting Supreme Court judges, 150 former Supreme Court judges, 76 sitting judges of Allahabad High Court and 101 former High Court judges.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya, however, agreed on only one name — Justice (retd) Ravindra Singh.
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