ALLAHABAD: A PIL challenging the process of selection of Lokayukta in UP today came up for hearing before the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice, who recused himself from the matter pointing out that the plea raised objections on the basis of his own non-inclusion in the panel for selecting a new ombudsman.
The PIL was filed by advocate Anoop Barnwal before the bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Yashwant Verma. In the PIL, it has been alleged that the selection process was "illegal", "unlawful" and in violation of the Lokayukta Act. It was the petitioner's contention that as per Section 3 of the Act, a Lokayukta has to be appointed in consultation with the Chief Justice as well as the Leader of the Opposition in the UP Vidhan Sabha.
The petitioner submitted that while the Leader of Opposition was included in the panel set up for selection of Lokayukta, the CJ of the High Court has been kept out. The Chief Justice released the matter from his bench observing that it "be placed before another bench of which one of the members of this bench (Justice D Y Chandrachud) is not a member".