New Delhi: The state government Monday informed the Supreme Court that they would complete the process of appointment of the Lokayukta by March end and it will start functioning in the state from April 8.
Appearing in-person before the bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi apprised the court that the process of appointment has been initiated and the state would appoint Lokayukta tentatively by March 31. The top court gave two months to Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Mizoram and five other states for the appointment of Lokayukta and listed the matter for hearing in the last week of April. In the affidavit filed in the SC, the state government stated that the first meeting of the search committee to initiate procedure of appointment was held under the chairmanship of Justice Amitava Roy December 24, 2018. As per its decision, an advertisement was given in Odia dailies from December 27 to 29 last year seeking applications for the post of chairperson and members of the Lokayukta.
The affidavit stated that the search panel in its meeting held January 8 and 9 completed the process of empanelment of persons for appointment and submitted its report to the chairperson of selection committee January 9.
As per the affidavit, the selection committee will hold a meeting Tuesday for recommendations of the names for the appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokayukta. After its recommendation of the names, “the same will be placed before the Governor for his approval after which, a notification will be issued.
Odisha Lokayukta to be up & running by April 8
