Had reached consensus on UP Lokayukta, says Allahabad HC CJ

Allahabad High Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has criticised the UP government for putting name of Justice (retd) Virendra Singh in list sent to Supreme Court for the 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 Chief Minister’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.