SC judge Dattu may be CJI nominee for Lokpal selection panel

Supreme Court judge H L Dattu is likely to be one of the members of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led selection panel to choose chairperson and members for anti-corruption body Lokpal.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice P Sathasivam is understood to have nominated Justice Dattu as one of the members of the selection committee, official sources said here.
The committee has as members Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him and an eminent jurist, who could be nominated by the President or any of the members.

Dattu, who was elevated to the apex court on December 17, 2008, is the third senior most judge after the CJI and Justice R M Lodha.

The Centre has sought nominations of eligible candidates for choosing chairperson and eight members of Lokpal. The last date of sending nomination is Feb 7.

Of the eight posts for members in the Lokpal, four are for judicial and the remaining for non-judicial side.

The chairperson and members shall be appointed by the President after obtaining the recommendations of the selection committee.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, provides for the establishment of a Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

President Pranab Mukherjee had given his assent to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill on January 1 this year.

The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2013, and by the Lok Sabha the next day.