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New Delhi: Justice KT Thomas, who heads the panel that is looking for the nine members of Lokpal or national anti-corruption ombudsman, quit his assignment today.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Justice Thomas said he communicated his unwillingness to the Prime Minister's Office on continuing as the head of the search committee because of the "rules made by the government."
"On studying the rules, I found that the search panel is expected to pick out names from a list prepared by Department of Personnel and Training. The search committee is confined to the list and then we forward it to the selection panel. The selection panel is not bound by the list we give; they can choose anyone. What's the need for a search panel then?" he said.
Justice Thomas also criticised the way judges were required to apply for the post. "A position like this should not be dependent on applications. Lokpal must be chosen. I don't approve asking for applications," he said.
The Lokpal's nine members are meant to include four former or serving judges. Legal experts have objected to the fact that judges have been asked to apply for the posts.
The law that creates the Lokpal was passed by Parliament in December after two years of stalling. The need for an ombudsman empowered to investigate corrupt government officials was championed by activists Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal in 2012 in a high-profile movement which caught the imagination of middle class India.
New Delhi: Justice KT Thomas, who heads the panel that is looking for the nine members of Lokpal or national anti-corruption ombudsman, quit his assignment today.
Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Justice Thomas said he communicated his unwillingness to the Prime Minister's Office on continuing as the head of the search committee because of the "rules made by the government."
"On studying the rules, I found that the search panel is expected to pick out names from a list prepared by Department of Personnel and Training. The search committee is confined to the list and then we forward it to the selection panel. The selection panel is not bound by the list we give; they can choose anyone. What's the need for a search panel then?" he said.
Justice Thomas also criticised the way judges were required to apply for the post. "A position like this should not be dependent on applications. Lokpal must be chosen. I don't approve asking for applications," he said.
The Lokpal's nine members are meant to include four former or serving judges. Legal experts have objected to the fact that judges have been asked to apply for the posts.
The law that creates the Lokpal was passed by Parliament in December after two years of stalling. The need for an ombudsman empowered to investigate corrupt government officials was championed by activists Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal in 2012 in a high-profile movement which caught the imagination of middle class India.
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