Ranchi, Apr 13 (PTI) The Jharkhand High Court on Monday was informed by the state government that the name of the candidate to be appointed as Lokayukta will be sent for final affirmation to the office of the governor within a week from April 13.
A division bench of Chief Justice MS Sonak and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Raj Kumar on the appointment of Lokayukta and the heads of other constitutional bodies in the state, which have been vacant for the past couple of years.
The counsel for the government further informed the high court that the state selection committee has forwarded certain names of candidates to be appointed as chief information commissioner and information commissioners to the office of the governor.
However, the governor has returned the list of names to be reconsidered by the selection committee.
The committee will once again scrutinise and alter the names of candidates if required for appointment as chief information commissioner and information commissioners in the state.
The court, while directing the government to expedite the process for appointment of the Lokayukta and other constitutional heads, will again hear the matter on April 23.
In the course of the hearing, the petitioner Raj Kumar had earlier informed the court that the post of Lokayukta, Chairman of State Human Rights Commission, State Chief Information Commissioner and information commissioners, as well as other constitutional posts, have been vacant for more than three years.
The government has not made any appointments nor shortlisted candidates for holding such offices, the petitioner had said.
The petitioner had mentioned that in the absence of chairpersons of offices, the common people are suffering and their problems are not being redressed.
Kumar also mentioned in his petition that more than 30,000 applications under the RTI Act are pending as posts of information commissioners are lying vacant. PTI CORR NAM RG
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