The previous Union Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-Section 4 of Section 1 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), had marked 16 January 2014 as the date on which the provisions of the said Act shall come into force. In exercise of powers conferred by Sub-Section 5 of Section 4 of the Act, the government notified the search committee (Constitution, Terms and Conditions of appointment of members and the manner of selection of Panel of Names for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal) Rules, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as Search Committee Rules) about the same.
A writ petition was then filed by Common Cause, a registered society, before the Supreme Court wherein, inter alia, the validity of the search committee rules was challenged. During the course of hearing of the case by the Supreme Court on 5 May, the apex court was informed that the government would re-examine the issue and make formal amendments in the rules and only thereafter proceed further in the matter. Then, the government constituted a committee under the chairmanship of the Attorney General to address the relevant issues related to the amendments to the search committee rules of 2014.
The committee submitted its report to the government on 31 July. This is now required to be processed in consultation with the Ministry of Law. The matter can be processed further only after the amendments are carried out in the rules as per the undertaking given before the Supreme Court.
Dr Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions gave this information in Lok Sabha today in a written reply to a question by MP Prem Singh Chandumajra.
Press Information Bureau
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