New Delhi: The selection committee for appointing Lokpal has decided to first fill the vacancy of eminent jurist in the panel before taking further action, the centre today told the Supreme Court about the outcome of the committee's March 1 meeting in which Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge declined to participate as a special invitee.
Those who participated in the meeting were the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and Lok Sabha Speaker, as the chairman and members of the selection committee respectively.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Indian National Congress which is the single largest party in opposition in the Lok Sabha, who was invited to attend the meeting as 'special invitee', declined to attend the meeting," the affidavit filed by the centre said, adding that Mr Kharge had sent a communication in this regard on February 28.
The post of eminent jurist has fallen vacant due to the passing away of senior advocate P P Rao last year.
When Venugopal replied that it would be done "at the earliest", the bench observed, "at the earliest means neither here nor there."
He said that almost an year has gone by since the apex court had passed a judgement but nothing has been done and only after the contempt plea was filed before the top court, a meeting of the selection committee was scheduled for March 1.
In the affidavit, the Centre gave the details of the the steps taken and proposed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
"Taking note of the judgement in letter and spirit, the chairperson of the selection committee, viz, the Prime Minister took a decision on February 22 to convene a meeting of the selection committee as provided under section 4 (1) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act," the affidavit said.
The committee took note of the vacancy in the position of 'eminent jurist' in the selection committee and "it was decided first to fill up the vacancy of the 'eminent jurist' as a member of the selection committee under the Act at the earliest before proceeding further in the matter", it said.
The centre said that the selection committee is currently seized with the matter and once the 'eminent jurist' is appointed as a member in the existing vacancy, further steps will be taken by the selection committee to proceed in the matter.
The centre had, on February 23, told the apex court that the process for appointing the anti-graft ombudsman Lokpal was going on.
The court had asked the secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training to file an affidavit about the "steps taken and proposed".
The top court, in its verdict last year, had said there was no justification to keep the enforcement of Lokpal Act suspended till the proposed amendments, including on the issue of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, were cleared by the parliament.
It had said the Act was an eminently workable piece of legislation and "does not create any bar to the enforcement of the provisions".
It had said the amendments proposed to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, and the views of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, were attempts to streamline the working of the Act and does not constitute legal hindrances or bar its enforcement.
The court had also said that such attempts for an amendment cannot halt the operation and execution of the law, which the executive in its wisdom has already given effect to and brought into force by resorting to the provisions of the Act.
The judgement had come on a plea by the NGO and others seeking immediate appointment of Lokpal in the country.
The court had said that section 4(2) of the Act makes it clear that the appointment of chairperson or a member of the Lokpal will not become invalid merely because of a vacancy in the selection committee.
Those who participated in the meeting were the Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India and Lok Sabha Speaker, as the chairman and members of the selection committee respectively.
"Mallikarjun Kharge, leader of Indian National Congress which is the single largest party in opposition in the Lok Sabha, who was invited to attend the meeting as 'special invitee', declined to attend the meeting," the affidavit filed by the centre said, adding that Mr Kharge had sent a communication in this regard on February 28.
The post of eminent jurist has fallen vacant due to the passing away of senior advocate P P Rao last year.
Advertisement
When Venugopal replied that it would be done "at the earliest", the bench observed, "at the earliest means neither here nor there."
Advertisement
He said that almost an year has gone by since the apex court had passed a judgement but nothing has been done and only after the contempt plea was filed before the top court, a meeting of the selection committee was scheduled for March 1.
Advertisement
In the affidavit, the Centre gave the details of the the steps taken and proposed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
Advertisement
"Taking note of the judgement in letter and spirit, the chairperson of the selection committee, viz, the Prime Minister took a decision on February 22 to convene a meeting of the selection committee as provided under section 4 (1) of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act," the affidavit said.
Advertisement
The committee took note of the vacancy in the position of 'eminent jurist' in the selection committee and "it was decided first to fill up the vacancy of the 'eminent jurist' as a member of the selection committee under the Act at the earliest before proceeding further in the matter", it said.
The centre said that the selection committee is currently seized with the matter and once the 'eminent jurist' is appointed as a member in the existing vacancy, further steps will be taken by the selection committee to proceed in the matter.
The centre had, on February 23, told the apex court that the process for appointing the anti-graft ombudsman Lokpal was going on.
The court had asked the secretary of the Department of Personnel and Training to file an affidavit about the "steps taken and proposed".
The top court, in its verdict last year, had said there was no justification to keep the enforcement of Lokpal Act suspended till the proposed amendments, including on the issue of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, were cleared by the parliament.
It had said the Act was an eminently workable piece of legislation and "does not create any bar to the enforcement of the provisions".
It had said the amendments proposed to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, and the views of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, were attempts to streamline the working of the Act and does not constitute legal hindrances or bar its enforcement.
The court had also said that such attempts for an amendment cannot halt the operation and execution of the law, which the executive in its wisdom has already given effect to and brought into force by resorting to the provisions of the Act.
The judgement had come on a plea by the NGO and others seeking immediate appointment of Lokpal in the country.
The court had said that section 4(2) of the Act makes it clear that the appointment of chairperson or a member of the Lokpal will not become invalid merely because of a vacancy in the selection committee.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
PM Modi Continues Diwali Tradition, Celebrates With Soldiers In Kachchh President Murmu, PM Modi Extend Diwali Greetings "Some Perverted Powers...": PM Modi's Strong Message From Statue Of Unity Walmart Employee's Big Claim After Indian-Origin Teen Found Dead In Oven Who Was Gursimran Kaur, Indian Teen Found Dead In Walmart Oven Businessman's Rs 1 Crore Rolex Gift To Contractor For Building His "Fortress" North Korea Says It Test-Fired Latest ICBM Hwasong-19 On Thursday Ex-Armyman Opens Fire At Man Over Parking Dispute In Pune; Arrested US Elections: 60 Million Cast Early Votes In Kamala Harris-Trump Tight Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.