AAP government has begin process to appoint Lokayukta, HC told

New Delhi, Jul 24: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government today told the Delhi High Court that it has initiated the process to appoint Lokayukta, a post which has remained vacant since November 2013.

An affidavit by Delhi government's concerned department was filed before Justice V P Vaish saying that it is "firmly committed to implementing the Lokayukta Act".

It sought dismissal of a former BJP MLA's petition seeking direction to immediately fill up the post of Lokayukta, saying it is "motivated petition, filed for achieving narrow political gains" and not "public interest".

"Provision(A) to Section 3 of Lokayukta Act, mandates that Lokayukta is to be appointed in consultation with Delhi High Court Chief Justice and the Leader of Opposition.

"The answering respondent (Delhi government) in compliance of the said statuary mandates, initiated the process of consultation by submitting its suggestion for filling in the vacant post of Lokayukta in a sealed cover, by a letter date July 10, 2015, to Delhi High Court Chief Justice," the Delhi government affidavit said.

"It is therefore most respectfully submitted that the process of appointment of Lokayukta has been initiated and is in process. The present petition may be kindly dismissed as infructuous," it added.

The Delhi government's response came in backdrop of the court's notice issued on May 15 while hearing a plea filed by BJP leader Sat Prakash Rana for appointment of Lokayukta.

Rana's counsel Jayant Nath has contended that though AAP government assumed charge in Delhi on February 14 it has "not yet taken any step for the appointment of the Lokayukta and Uplokayukta here".

PTI