State Govt to constitute Lokayukta by June 30

SHILLONG: The state government has to complete the process of appointing a chairperson of Meghalaya Lokayukta by June 30.
The Supreme Court on April 19 heard the pending case and wanted Meghalaya and other states to complete the process at the earliest.
Supreme Court advocate and counsel for Meghalaya Ranjan Mukherjee said on Sunday that an affidavit was filed by the state government informing the Court that the appointment of chairperson was made on October 6 last year with the approval of Meghalaya governor but when the warrant of appointment was made, he refused to accept the post.
The government wanted time till December 31 to complete the process but after the hearing on April 19, the state government has decided to effect the appointment of chairperson by June 30, Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee said the search committee that was constituted on January 13, 2017 will have to sit again to speed up the process of recommending names.
According to the order of Supreme Court, the states have to ensure compliance before July 10.
The Meghalaya Lokayukta Act states that 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 from the judiciary.
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.