UP draws apex court’s anger for sitting on Lokayukta appointment

The Supreme Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday for not appointing Lokayukta in the state despite its directions and ordered compliance by December 16, saying it seemed that appointing authorities have their “own agenda”.

The Supreme Court rapped the Uttar Pradesh government on Monday for not appointing Lokayukta in the state despite its directions and ordered compliance by December 16, saying it seemed that appointing authorities have their “own agenda”.

The Supreme Court bench was critical of the submissions made by the advocate general of Uttar Pradesh that the needful would be done shortly. (HT File Photo)

“Why do you not appoint the Lokayukta? Why has our order not been complied with? Why can’t the chief minister, the governor and the chief justice (of the High Court) sort this out?,” the bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and NV Ramana said.

“We don’t mince words. It seems, each one of you have your own agenda... you make the appointment by Wednesday,” it said while fixing the petitions on the issue for hearing on December 16.

The bench was critical of the submissions made by the advocate general of Uttar Pradesh that the needful would be done shortly.

“Last time also, you had said the same thing,” the bench said.

The bench was hearing the pleas filed by Mahendra Kumar Jain and lawyer Radhakant Tripathi seeking a direction to the state to appoint the Lokayukta at the earliest in pursuance of the Supreme Court orders.

The apex court, on December 4, had issued notice to the state government on a separate plea asking why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against it for non-compliance of its order to appoint a new Lokayukta in the state.