Govt receives names of judges for Lokayukta

Source:-https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Panaji: The state government has received the names of retired judges of the Supreme Court and high court to be appointed as the Lokayukta for the state. The post was lying vacant after Lokayukta P K Misra’s term ended on September 17, 2020.
Speaking to TOI, advocate general Devidas Pangam said the high court has directed the government to appoint the new Lokayukta by December.
A senior government officer said that the state government will send letters to retired judges seeking their consents to be appointed as the Lokayukta. The officer said that once the consent is obtained, a three-member committee will finalise the name. Chief minister and leader of opposition are the members of the committee.
“Once the name is finalised in consultation with the chief justice of the Bombay high court, the new Lokayukta will be appointed,” the officer said.

The state government had approached the Supreme Court seeking names of retired judges for appointment as the Lokayukta.
As per The Goa Lokayukta Act, the Lokayukta has to be either a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a retired chief justice of the high court. There are around 75 cases pending before the office of Lokayukta.
Misra, a former retired chief justice of Patna high court had taken the oath of office on April 28, 2016. The Goa cabinet dragged its feet for almost three years before the appointment was done.
A senior government officer said that the state government will send letters to retired judges seeking their consents to be appointed as the Lokayukta. The officer said that once the consent is obtained, a committee will finalise the name