Former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was appointed as the country’s first Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman on 19th March 2019.
Judicial Members :: Former Chief Justices – Dilip B Bhosale, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, Abhilasha Kumari & sitting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court Ajay Kumar Tripathi
Non-Judicial Members :: Former first woman chief of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Archana Ramasundaram, ex-Maharashtra chief secretary Dinesh Kumar Jain, former IRS officer Mahender Singh and Gujarat cadre ex-IAS officer Indrajeet Prasad Gautam.
The selection was done by a panel — headed by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi — includes the Lok Sabha speaker, leader of the opposition in the lower house, the Chief Justice of India or any judge of the Supreme court he nominates, and an eminent jurist who could be nominated by the President or any other member. President Ram Nath Kovind nominated Mukul Rohatgi, a former Attorney General, as the ”eminent jurist”.
The Lokpal has to work in tandem with the Central Vigilance Commission, it can direct any investigating agency, including the CBI, to look into allegations of graft under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Now we should move ahead with an optimistic attitude that Lokpal will bring down corruption but only time will tell how much difference it will make.
But seriously looking forward to it. Hope it makes a difference.
Jai Hind!
