Justice (retd) Sanjay Mishra sworn in as new UP Lokayukta

Retired judge of Allahabad High Court Justice Sanjay Mishra was today sworn in as the new Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh bringing to an end a bitter year-long feud between Raj Bhawan and the state government on the appointment of the anti-graft ombudsman.

The new Lokayukta was administered oath by Governor Ram Naik at a brief function at Raj Bhawan.

He would replace justice (retd) N K Mehrotra, who was appointed Lokayukta on March 16, 2006 and had a nearly ten-year tenure.

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was present at the swearing-in ceremony along with his senior cabinet ministers.

Besides the chief minister, two other members of the selection panel -- Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court D Y Chandrachud and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Swami Prasad Maurya -- were present. Expelled SP leader Amar Singh was also present.

The appointment of Lokayukta had snowballed into a major controversy last year with the Governor refusing to accept the name of Justice (retd) Raveendra Singh and asking the chief minister to follow proper procedure for selecting the ombudsman.


BSP supremo Mayawati has welcomed the Appointment of the new Lokayukta in the state by the Supreme Court and said this is a justified step against massive irregularities and lies.

"The appointment of Justice Sanjay Mishra to the post of Lokayukta by the Supreme Court is a welcome move. He is known as an honest and unbiased Judge," she said congratulating both chief justice of the Allahabad high court D Y Chandrachud and leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya on it.

This step of the Supreme Court is in fact a slap on the face of casteist politics of Samajwadi Party and its chief", she said ,adding that SP government got the punishment for making appointment of the new lokayukta political, casteist and controversial issue.