New Delhi: In the wake of legal luminary Fali Nariman’s refusal to be on Lokpal’s search panel, the Centre on Thursday said all procedures had been followed for forming a search committee to recommend a panel of names for selection of chairperson and members of the anti-graft body.
“I would like to make it very clear. Transparent method has been followed. The process was followed very properly. As far as the selection of members of the search committee is concerned, Fali Nariman was one among the jurists who have been considered… It is for the person concerned either to accept or not to accept,” said Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy said. Nariman, in a letter to the government, has refused to be on the eight-member search committee citing flawed process.
The search committee is mandated to prepare a panel of persons to be considered by the Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal. “Without going through his letter I cannot make any comment on that,” said the Minister, adding that Nariman’s name was considered on the basis of other members’ suggestion. “It is not the question of consulting him because the panel that had been prepared some names were there and thereafter we thought he (Nariman) would be able to serve the committee. Therefore his name was considered…,” he said.
“That does not mean that the procedure has not been followed. Out of eight members, some have given their consent. The communication (consent) has been received by our department. We will go for the next process,” he said. (PTI)