Lukcnow: Former Judge of the Allahabad High Court Justice Virendra Singh has been appointed as the Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
A bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and N V Ramana appointed former Allahabad High Court judge Virendra Singh as the new UP Lokayukta, after recording the repeated failure of the state government to obey with the court’s order.
After apex court directed a time limit of December 16 to appoint the new Lokayukta, the selection committee comprises the CM, Leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court met on Tuesday to select a name.
The Bench delivered its confirmation on Mr. Justice (retired) Singh after examining a list of five names. It has directed the State government to obey with this order and report back on December 20.
“I will strive hard to root out corruption from the society,” said Singh, a former Allahabad high court judge who also holds the office of chairman of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum.
Questioning him that whether the SC’s decision came as a surprise, Singh replied by saying that the process of appointment of new Lokayukta had been going on for a long time. “I was not very keen for the same as I already hold office of chairman State Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum. I will, however, do whatever necessary after assuming the Lokayukta’s post.”
