SC pulls up Centre over Lokpal delay

NewDelhi:The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre over delay in appointment of Lokpal, saying it should not allow the law to become a “dead letter”. The apex court said that the Lokpal law that came into being after the nation-wide stir led by Anna Hazare cannot be made redundant just because the legislation was not amended to bring in the leader of the largest opposition party in the selection panel.
The appointment of the anti-corruption ombudsman has been hanging in balance since the The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 which received Presidential assent on January 1, 2014 on the ground that the legislation provides that the Leader of Opposition (LoP) has to be in selection committee, but in present Lok Sabha, there is no LoP.
Chief Justice T S Thakur, said LoP is “dispensable” and things can proceed without LoP who can be replaced by the leader of the largest opposition party in the committee. (PTI)