NEW DELHI: In an important shift in its position, the central government told the Supreme Court that it was considering amending the rules that would enable the search committee to identify the eminent people beyond those submitted to it by the government for selection as chairperson and members of the Lokpal.
Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran told the bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph that the government was considering a proposal to amend the Lokpal Search Committee Rules to empower it to consider any person other than the people included in the list provided by the central government.
The rules proposed to be amended are the Search Committee (Constitution, Terms and Conditions of appointment of members and the manner of selection of Panel of Names for appointment of Chairperson and Members of Lokpal) Rules, 2014.
The court was told that the amended rules would enable the search committee to "identify eminent people in different fields, including judges of the Supreme Court and high courts to man the post of chairperson/members of Lokpal".
The government, in its May 2 communication by Minister of State in PMO V. Narayanasamy to Solicitor General Parasan, which was submitted to the court, said: "It is felt that it may be possible that many eminent people, including judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, may have reservation in submitting their applications to the DoPT, particularly having regard to the pre-eminence of the position held by them."
Under the existing provision, any one desirous of being selected as chairman or a member of Lokpal has to make an application to the department of personnel and training.
