The Supreme Court on Thursday appointed Justice Sanjay Mishra, former judge of Allahabad High Court, as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh. The SC passed its judgemnet after recalling its earlier order appointing Justice Virendra Singh as UP Lokayukta. The apex court on Wednesday reserved verdict on pleas seeking recall of its order appointing Justice Virendra Singh, a former judge of Allahabad HC, as the Lokayukta of UP, saying it has been “misled” on the issue.
The controversy surrounding Justice Singh, appointed by the apex court as Lokayukta on the ground that the selection panel of the Chief Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of the High Court did not appoint anybody in last 20 months despite its orders, took the centre stage in the proceedings.
“Certainly not,” the bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi said when senior advocate TR Andhyarujina submitted as to whether Justice Singh would have been appointed by it if the state had apprised the court about the reservations of the High Court Chief Justice against him. Andhyarujina said, “the Chief Justice suspected the integrity of Justice (Virendra) Singh” and it was agreed to by the Chief Minister and the Leader of Opposition that his name will be dropped, but still his name was given to this court.
