Why in news?
The Supreme Court recently ordered on the appointment of the Lokpal.
What is the order about?
- Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha is a part of the selection committee of Lokpal.
- The second largest part in Lok Sabha should have at least 10% of the total LS seats in order to get the status of Opposition Party.
- There is no LoP in the current House, since the Congress does not have the required 10% seats.
- An amendment has been proposed to substitute the position of the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha with the leader of the single largest opposition party on the selection committee.
- The Court order clarified that The Lokpal can be appointed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, without waiting for then amendment.
- The court clarified that there is no justification to keep the enforcement of the Act under suspension till the amendments are carried out.
What should be done?
- It is time for a Lokpal in India.
- But equally, it is crucial that the institution should be fair and independent, that it should rise above partisan political interests and be insulated from government interference.
- In this context, the presence of the LoP on the selection committee, alongside the PM, LS Speaker, Chief Justice of India or his nominee and an eminent jurist, is enormously important.
- It is a real and symbolic assurance of the institution’s autonomy from the ruling regime.
- The court order is also against the principle of separation of powers that is so fundamental to a constitutional democracy.
Source: The Indian Express
