Expressing displeasure over the non-appointment of Lokpal, the apex court on Tuesday (July 24) asked the Centre to file a fresh and better affidavit within four weeks.

During today’s hearing, Attorney General KK Venugopal informed the bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, R Banumathi and Navin Sinha that the search committee for the appointment of Lokpal has not been constituted. On July 19, the committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to decide on the members of search committee. The search committee has not been constituted yet, because finding efficient members for the committee is taking time, the AG informed the bench.

At this the bench expressed displeasure and asked the AG to file a better affidavit within four weeks. When the AG asked why the bench was unhappy with the affidavit he filed today, the bench refused to state the reason.

The petitioner said that the bench should itself appoint the members of the search committee and also appoint the Lokpal.

The search committee for the appointment of Lokpal comprises the PM, the CJI (Justice Dipak Misra), an eminent jurist (former Attorney General and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi) and the leader of the Opposition (Mallikarjun Kharge). The selection of the opposition leader has been contested by the BJP. As per the constitution to qualify as Opposition, a party should have at least 10 percent of the seats, which the Congress does not. As per the Lokpal Act the Opposition Leader, hence, is missing. Without the core committee it has become impossible to select even a search committee.

—India Legal Bureau