Lokpal appointment only after rules are amended: Govt

The government will go ahead with the appointment of chairperson and members in Lokpal once search committee rules are amended, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday.

Giving details on the status of Lokpal in Rajya Sabha, he said a writ petition has been filed by NGO Common Cause before the Supreme Court challenging the validity of search committee rules.

During the course of hearing of the case on May 5, the court has been informed that the government will re-examine the issue and make formal amendments in the rules and only thereafter proceed further in the matter, said Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions.

"Accordingly, government has examined the matter and it has been found that a number of provisions in the said rules require to be amended. The matter can be processed further only after the amendments are carried out in the rules as per the undertaking given before the Supreme Court," he said in a written reply.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act provides for the establishment of a Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into corruption charges against public functionaries.

President Pranab Mukherjee had given his assent to Lokpal Act on January 1, this year.

The previous government could not go ahead with the much-touted appointment of the Lokpal due to objections raised by BJP about the selection procedure of the anti-corruption body.

As per existing rules, an eight-member search committee will draw up a panel for consideration by the selection committee led by the Prime Minister for appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal.