Bhubaneswar: The state government appointed justice (retd) Ananga Kumar Patnaik as the fifth member of the selection committee formed to appoint a Lokayukta in the state.
In its first meeting held October 6, the selection panel headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik nominated Patnaik as another member of the panel. Following the approval of the Governor, the general administration (GA) department issued a notification in this regard.
The other members of the panel are Assembly Speaker Pradip Amat, Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and High Court Chief Justice KS Jhaveri.
The state government missed the deadline set by Supreme Court for appointment of a Lokayukta in the state. While hearing a case on appointment of Lokayukta in various states including Odisha, the apex court had asked the state government to appoint Lokayukta in the state by a period of three months. However, the state is yet to form Search Committee needed to search members for the Lokayukta Mandal.
As per the Act, the Selection Committee will form a five-member Search Committee, whose members will have a term of two years. The Search Committee would enlist five persons for the Lokayukta chairperson post and 15 persons for Lokayukta member posts and recommend their names to the Selection Committee, which would select a 6-memeber Lokayukta Mandal including the chairperson.
Sources said the state government will seek more time from Supreme Court for appointment of Lokayukta in the state as a lot of process has to follow prior to appointment of the body. The apex court is likely to hear the case October 24 next.
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