As reported by news agency IANS, Retired Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose has been recommended to be India’s first Lokpal (anti-corruption ombudsman of India). A Selection Committee for Lokpal was formed to identify and appoint India’s Lokpal. Selection committee comprise following personalities
- PM Narendra Modi (Head of the selection committee)
- Loksabha Speaker Smt. Sumitra Mahajan
- Opposition Leader Malika Arjun Kharge
- Former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi (appointed by President Kovind as eminent Jurist)
- Chief Justice Of India Ranjan Gogoi
As per the report Malika Arjun Kharge who is senior Loksabha Member from congress party and the leader of the opposition did not attend the meeting on Friday. It is said Mr. Kharge was upset for being designated as ‘special invitee’, this is why he did not attend earlier meetings which as per the sources was one of the reason of delay in appointing Lokpal. Further, Committee finalized the name and all agreed upon appointing Rt. Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as first Lokpal, official notification is not released yet probably by next week officials will release the same. Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013 and notified in early 2014, yet no one was appointed as the Lokpal till now. In January union government felt the heat of Apex court when SC showed their indignation to the center on appointing Lokpal. On 7th March Supreme court bench headed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi hardened their stance and asked Modi government to inform them within a fortnight about when they would finalize the name.
Many people are questioning the timing of this selection and are accusing government for politicizing it, but we have understand that it has more to do with Supreme Court’s stand and people know that Modi government has not done much in last 5 years for selecting Lokpal. Center government was under immense pressure from supreme court’ which left no choice in front of them except to appoint Lokpal, it looks very hard that they will take take credit of it as there are fair chances that it will back fire and people will start questioning their intentions.
As per the reports the others members of the Lokpal would include four former High Court judges and four former civil servants. Lokpal at the Center and Lokayuktas in states are to look into cases of corruption against certain categories of public servants.
We are getting reactions from all the parties.
National General Secretary of BJP Mr. Kailash Vijayvargiya has tweeted : “A Hitting news for all the False Accusers whose Past itself has been full of Corruption. Former Supreme Court Justice Shri Pinaki Chandra ji Ghose is set to be the first Lokpal of India. #ChowkidaarPureHai #IndiasFirstLokpal #Lokpal”
Abhishek Manu Singhvi from Congress Party has tweeted : “#Modi #Shah #BjP deserve congrats 4appointing #Lokpal when their departure time hs come after wasting 5yrs since 2014, despite hypocritically shouting lokpal during their opp years!modiji also acted true 2form having obstructed/stalled #Lokayukta 4whole 12yr term as #CM #Gujarat”
Puducherry Governor Kiran Bedi who was also associated with Anna’s lokpal movement also tweeted: “Exceedingly happy to see the announcement of LOKPAL. It shall strengthen all anti-corruption systems in the country and give a big boost to vigilance work at all levels. Thank #AnnaHazare for having led and persevered for this cause. Jai Hind.”
People are tweeting from all over the country and responding on the news.
One of the twitter user by the handle name Chowkidar Geetika Swami @SwamiGeetika she wrote : “Known for his legendary decision in Jayalalithaa’s disproportionate assets case, ex president of Ramakrishna Mission mandir, Belur & ex SC justice PC Ghose would be the first Lokpal of India, the anti corruption ombudsmn. Great News! #PCGhose #Lokpal “
Another user by the name of yasmin sana @yasminsana11 she wrote : “THUMB RULE: Regardless of who is in power, Any Policy, Project or Amendment etc announced in last 6 months of their tenure is just a political stunt. Jan hit me jari. #Lokpal #ModiWhereIsOurMoney“
About Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose
Pinaki Chandra Ghose (born 28 May 1952) is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, he retires from the supreme court in May 2017.Prior to his elevation(in 2013) to the Supreme Court, he had served as Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, and before that, as a Justice of the Calcutta High Court. He is presently a member of the National Human Rights Commission
Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose is son of Late Shri Justice Sambhu Chandra Ghose, former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court. He is a fifth generation lawyer in the family of Dewan Baranasi Ghose of Jorasanko, a renowned family from the northern provinces of the City of Calcutta. Hara Chandra Ghose, who became the first Indian Chief Judge of the Sadar Dewani Adalat at Calcutta in 1867, was a member of this family.
As the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, he had convicted Sasikala, the live-in companion of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a corruption case.
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