We had reached consensus on a name, says CJ Chandrachud

Allahabad High Court Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud has criticised the UP government for putting the name of Justice (retd) Virendra Singh in the list sent to Supreme Court for appointment of Lokayukta, and also for "failing" to inform the apex court that a panel had "nearly reached" an understanding on a name.

The Chief Justice said the state government failed to inform the apex court that the three-member committee had nearly reached an understanding on the name of Justice AN Mittal (sitting judge of Allahabad high court) for appointment as the new Lokayukta.

Chandrachud, who was part of the three-member panel for selecting Lokayukta, shot off a letter to Governor Ram Naik a day after the Supreme Court invoked its constitutional powers and chose Justice Singh as the ombudsman.

The letter has been forwarded to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Leader of the Opposition in the UP Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya, the two other members of the selection panel.

Chandrachud also referred to his strong reservation over the name of justice (retd) Virendra Singh and how the chief minister had "assured" him that the state government would not push his name.

Despite the CM's assurance, the state government submitted justice Virendra Singh's name to the Supreme Court as part of a five-member panel for the apex court's perusal, he said.

The selection panel had held marathon meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday to select a new lokayukta but failed to arrive at a consensus.

In an unusual order, the Supreme Court while exercising its constitutional authority, on Wednesday appointed the former High Court judge as Lokayukta, after the state government failed to meet the deadline fixed by the court. The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption authority constituted at the state level.