UP Lokayukta controversy far from over; Guv returns file after Chief Justice raises objection

Allahabad High Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has raised objections to the elevation of Justice (retd) Virendra Singh as the new Lokayukta of UP.

Lucknow: The controversy relating to the appointment of new Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta is far from over as Allahabad High Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has now raised objections to the elevation of Justice (retd) Virendra Singh to the post.

A report published in 'The Indian Express' on Friday said that Justice Chandrachud has written a letter to Governor Ram Naik, expressing displeasure that despite his strong objection Justice (retd) Virendra Singh's name was included in the panel of names sent to the Supreme Court.

The moves comes two days after the Supreme Court invoked its constitutional powers and chose Justice (retd) Virendra Singh as the Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh from a panel of names placed before it.

In his letter, Justice Chandrachud has also claimed that he was assured by the state's Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav that Singh's name will not be included in the panel of names that would be sent to the apex court.

Taking cognizance of the concerns expressed by the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice, Governor Ram Naik has forwarded his letter to the Chief Minister as well as Leader of Opposition Swami Prasad Maurya.

It is to be noted that High Court Chief Justice, Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition are the three top functionaries who decide on the Lokayukta.

Interestingly, the Governor has also returned the state government’s file on the appointment of Justice Virendra Singh as Lokayukta because the copy of the Supreme Court order was not attached.

CM Akhilesh Yadav, Chief Justice Chandrachud and Swami Prasad Maurya deliberated for five hours on Tuesday evening and for two hours in the morning next day to discuss the names before the Supreme Court gave its ruling.

In his letter, the Chief Justice is believed to have detailed the selection procedure that was adopted and the discussions that took place regarding the Lokayukta appointment. The letter, it is believed, holds that the second round of meeting on Wednesday morning had ended on the note that the name of Justice Virendra Singh would not be pressed further, that the name of a serving judge, Justice AN Mittal, would be considered at the next sitting the same evening.

However, that sitting never took place because the Supreme Court named the Lokayukta.