Former Supreme Court Judge A M Khanwilkar Appointed as Lokpal Chairperson

Former Supreme Court judge A M Khanwilkar has been appointed as the chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, nearly two years after the post fell vacant. President Droupadi Murmu also appointed former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi, former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Lingappa Narayana Swamy, and former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Sanjay Yadav as the judicial members in the Lokpal.

New Delhi, February 27: Former Supreme Court judge Arvind Madhavrao Khanwilkar was appointed as the chairperson of the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal on Tuesday, nearly two years after the post fell vacant. President Droupadi Murmu also appointed three former chief justices of high courts and three former civil servants as judicial and non-judicial members of the Lokpal.

Appointments to the Lokpal

In addition to Justice Khanwilkar, the following individuals were appointed to the Lokpal:

• Judicial Members:
• Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi (former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court)
• Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy (former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court)
• Justice Sanjay Yadav (former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court)
• Non-Judicial Members:
• Sushil Chandra (former Chief Election Commissioner)
• Pankaj Kumar (former Chief Secretary of Gujarat)
• Ajay Tirkey (former Land Resources Secretary)

These appointments will take effect from the dates the individuals assume charge of their respective offices.

Lokpal Functioning Without Regular Chief

The Lokpal has been operating without a regular chief since Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose completed his term on May 27, 2022. Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty, a judicial member of the Lokpal, has been serving as the acting chairperson.

About Justice A M Khanwilkar

Justice Khanwilkar, aged 66, served as a judge of the Supreme Court from May 13, 2016 to July 29, 2022. He was part of several important constitution benches and delivered significant judgments, including the decriminalization of consensual gay sex and the upholding of the Aadhaar scheme with certain restrictions.

Selection Process for Lokpal

The chairperson and members of the Lokpal are appointed by the President after obtaining recommendations from a Selection Committee headed by the Prime Minister. The Lokpal can have a maximum of eight members, including four judicial and four non-judicial members.

Background of Other Appointees

Justice Awasthi served as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court and was part of the bench that upheld the ban on hijab in educational institutions. Justice Swamy was the Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, while Justice Yadav held the same position in the Allahabad High Court.

Sushil Chandra served as the Chief Election Commissioner, Pankaj Kumar retired as the Chief Secretary of Gujarat, and Ajay Tirkey was the Land Resources Secretary before his superannuation.

Term of Lokpal Chief and Members

The Lokpal chief and members are appointed for a term of five years or until they reach the age of 70 years.

The appointment of Justice Khanwilkar and other members to the Lokpal is a significant step in strengthening the anti-corruption ombudsman and ensuring its effective functioning in addressing corruption-related issues in India.