The President of India, Droupadi Murmu appointed former Supreme Court judge, justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar as the chairperson of Lokpal.

Appointment

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu appointed former Supreme Court judge, justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar as the chairperson of Lokpal. Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar will be the second Lokpal of India, after Pinaki Chandra Ghose, who retired in May 2022 after a two-year tenure in office. The appointment was announced nearly three weeks after a selection committee of the Prime Minister, speaker of Lok Sabha, leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India, shortlisted his name. Former chief justice of the Jharkhand high court, justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty is currently the acting chairperson and judicial member. The President also appointed former high court chief justices -- justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy, justice Sanjay Yadav, justice Ritu Raj Awasthi – as judicial members. Three others Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey were appointed as the non-judicial members.


      The Lokpal has been established under the Lokayukta Act 2013 to investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries who fall within the scope and ambit of the Act.

      The Lok Pal consists of a chairperson and 8 members out of whom 50% are judicial members.

      The members hold a term of five years or until they attain the age of 70 years.

 

     


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