The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the GoI Search Committee to finish its deliberations and submit the names of shortlisted candidates for the post of Lokpal by the end of February this year.

 

A bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi with Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjay Kishan Kaul also directed the GoI to ensure that requisite infrastructure and manpower is provided to the Search Committee to commence its deliberations and finish them within the time frame laid down.

 

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, expressed his reservations about the process of deliberations and requested for the shortlisted names to be published on the website. However, CJI Gogoi advised Bhushan to view the developments positively.

 

“Is there a reason to believe that the search committee would do something that is not appropriate. Don’t look at things from a negative point of view. Look at things positively and the world would be a better place. We are trying to make the world a better place.”

CJI Gogoi also highlighted that the need of the hour is for the Search Committee to begin its deliberations that have been on hold due to some obstacles that were pointed out by Attorney General KK Venugopal. Publishing the names on the website is not a requirement at the moment, CJI Gogoi remarked.

 

“Mr. Bhushan, please do not ask the court to pass orders that are not required. At the moment the requirement is for the search committee to complete the task, and we have laid down the timeline for that.”

 

The Court has set the next date for hearing in the case on March 7. The panel of shortlisted names for Lokpal and its members is required to be submitted by the end of February.