The Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government today told the Delhi High Court that the state Lokayukta is expected to be appointed by October 28.
The Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government today told the Delhi High Court that the state Lokayukta is expected to be appointed by October 28.
The submission was made before Justice R S Endlaw by the state government while opposing the plea of Vijender Gupta, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi assembly, to add him as a party in the matter.
Senior advocate Chetan Sharma, appearing for Mr Gupta, contended that despite being the LoP in the assembly, he was not consulted on the appointment of the Lokayukta by the AAP government.
Advocate Gautam Narayan, appearing for the Delhi government, said the appointment would be done by the next date of hearing on October 28, and that the petition would become infructuous.
Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain sought time to file a reply on behalf of the Centre in the matter.
The court was hearing a plea by BJP leader Sat Prakash Rana seeking that someone be appointed to the post of the anti-corruption ombudsman, which was lying vacant for the last 21 months.
Mr Rana had said the non-appointment was adding to the pendency of cases and, more importantly, blocked a legal right of residents of the national capital.
The Delhi government had earlier in an affidavit told the court that all statutory authorities would be consulted in compliance of the statutory mandate.
Mr Gupta, in his intervention application, has contended that as per Delhi Lokayukta and UpLokayukta Act 1995, the appointment procedure provides that the LoP has to be consulted. He also alleged that the Delhi government has not initiated any "consultation process" with him.
On September 26, last year, the court had asked the Lieutenant Governor to initiate the process to fill the post of the Lokayukta, saying statutory provisions make it mandatory on the part of the State to ensure that the post is filled up "without any delay".