Lokayukta appointment: SC rejects Odisha's plea for more time

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today suffered a major setback after the Supreme Court rejected its plea seeking additional three months' time for appointment of the Lokayukta in the State.

In a directive to the State’s Chief Secretary AP Padhi, the apex court asked the government to mention a deadline by which the Lokayukta appointment will be done.

Despite four years and five months since the passage of the Lokayukta Bill in the State Assembly, the government is yet to appoint the Lokayukta.

On July 10, the Supreme Court had directed the State government to constitute the Lokayukta in three months and had set the deadline of October 10.

On October 6, the selection committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik finalized the name of the fifth member of the panel which will choose a five-member search committee to recommend the name of the Lokayukta and its members.

Other members of the selection committee which will finalise the search committee are the CM, Assembly Speaker, the Leader of Opposition and the Orissa High Court Chief Justice.