Apex body Lokpal Yet to Get Director of Inquiry
The Director has not been appointed by the Central Government to inquire into the complaints received from the Lokpal.
The Lokpal is a National Anti-Corruption Ombudsman to investigate complaints against public servants as defined under the Lokpal Act 2013.
As per the Act, an inquiry director will be appointed. This director shall be an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary, and shall be appointed by the Central Government. It will discharge the duty of preliminary inquiry as specified by the Lokpal to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Though the Lokpal came into existence in the year 2019, the Director of Inquiry has not been appointed yet, however, the CVC is receiving cases/complaints to initiate a preliminary inquiry.
Salient Features of the Lokpal Act, 2013
- Jurisdiction of Lokpal: It will include Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament and officers of Group A, B, C and D.
- The Lokpal is a body consisting of a maximum of 8 members including a chairperson, in which 4 will be judicial members. The remaining 4 members will be from among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women.
Selection Committee: This committee will consist of the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a sitting judge of the Supreme Court nominated by the CJI and an eminent jurist to be nominated by the President.
Source – The Hindu
