Former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was on Tuesday appointed the country’s first Lokpal — the national anti-corruption ombudsman. This comes five years after the Lokpal Act received the President’s nod on January 1, 2014.
Former Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) chief Archana Ramasundaram, ex-Maharashtra Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar Jain, Mahender Singh and Indrajeet Prasad Gautam have been appointed as non-judicial members of Lokpal, reports ANI.
ALSO READ: Prez Kovind presents Gallantry Awards and Distinguished Service Decorations
Justices Dilip B Bhosale, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, Abhilasha Kumari and Ajay Kumar Tripathi have been appointed as judicial members in the anti-corruption ombudsman.
These appointments were recommended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led selection committee and approved by President Ram Nath Kovind.
The Lokpal Act, which envisages the establishment of the anti-graft body Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to look into cases of corruption against certain categories of public servants, was passed in 2013.
Provisions of the Act:
- The Act consists of a team called Lokpal which is headed by a chairperson and consists of eight people.
- The committee has the power to probe people having acquiring money through corrupt means.
- All categories of public servants will fall under the Lokpal for scrunity including the Prime Minister.
- The Indian armed forces will be exempted from the Act.