Notice to Punjab on Lokpal appointment

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday issued a notice of motion to the Punjab government on a public-interest petition seeking directions for the appointment of Lokpal in the state.

The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday issued a notice of motion to the Punjab government on a public-interest petition seeking directions for the appointment of Lokpal in the state.

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In his petition, lawyer HC Arora submitted that the post of Lokpal was vacant since April 1 when justice DS Dhaliwal (retd) demitted the office. Since then, the state government has not tried to appoint the new incumbent.

Nealy 100 complaints were pending against ministers, legislators, and former ministers, submitted the lawyer, adding that instead of appointing Lokpal, the state government had relieved the registrar, joint registrar, a reader and a personal assistant concerned to stall the functioning of the judicial wing of Lokpal.

The next hearing is on November 7.