Panel calls for names for Meghalaya Lokayukta

SHILLONG: The Search Committee constituted by the Government has called for names for appointment as chairperson and members of Meghalaya Lokayukta.
The Committee comprising G.P Wahlang as Chairman, B.B Dutta, L.M Sangma, Theilin Phanbuh and S.G Momin as members met last month to find suitable names.
“We recently issued an advertisement calling for eligible persons,” a member of the Search Committee said on Sunday.
A chairman and four members constitute Meghalaya Lokayukta.
The Search Committee will meet soon to further examine the applications received.
After finalisation of a panel of names by the Search Committee, the matter will be further examined by the Committee comprising the Chief Minister as Chairman and the Assembly Speaker, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya or a Judge nominated by him, the Leader of the Opposition and nominated member M.P Bezbaruah as members.
The Governor will finally approve the official formation of the lokayukta after getting the Committee’s recommendation.
According to the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, the chairperson of the Lokayukta will be an individual who is or has been a Chief Justice of the High Court or a Judge of the High Court or an eminent person who fulfils the eligibility of having an impeccable integrity and knowledge of the anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance, including insurance and banking, law and management for at least 25 years.  While the term of the chairman and four members is five years, they can remain in office till the age of 70 as per the Lokayukta Act. The minimum age of the chairperson and members should be 45 years.
Out of the four members to be appointed, two will be judicial.
A person will be eligible to be appointed as a judicial member if he is or has been a Judge of the High Court or is eligible to be a Judge of the High Court.
For members other than a judicial member, the candidate should be a person of impeccable integrity, outstanding ability having special knowledge and expertise of not less than 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance, law and management.