M A I N   N E W S

Govt to fill key posts without LS Oppn leader

New Delhi, September 7
The government has decided to go ahead with the appointments to various statutory bodies such as Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Lokpal without the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha as a member of the selection committee choosing them.

The move comes following a recent reference from the Lok Sabha secretariat, official sources said. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) had written to the Lok Sabha seeking information on the Leader of Opposition. The secretariat has informed the DoPT that there is no recognised Leader of Opposition in the LS, they said. The government will go ahead with the appointments to various statutory bodies without the Leader of Opposition, the sources said.

LS Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had rejected the Congress’ demand for the Leader of Opposition status for its nominee. The Congress with 44 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha has emerged as the second largest party after the BJP’s 282 but fell short by 11 to stake claim for the Opposition leader tag for which it requires a strength of 55.

There is no mandatory requirement of the leader of opposition in the selection committee that recommends persons for the CVC, Vigilance Commissioner, chairpersons and members for the NHRC and Lokpal, they said.

The appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner and Vigilance Commissioner is done by the President on the basis of recommendation from a three-member selection committee headed by the PM and comprising the Minister for Home Affairs and the Leader of Opposition in the House, as per the Central Vigilance Act, 2003.

The Act further has a provision that when no such leader has been recognised then the selection committee can include the leader of the single largest group in Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

“No appointment of a Central Vigilance Commissioner or a Vigilance Commissioner shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy in the Committee,” the Act says.

The chairperson and members of the NHRC are to be appointed by the President following a recommendation by a committee consisting of the PM (as chairperson) and LS Speaker, In charge of the Home Affairs Ministry, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, as members, according to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.

As per the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, "No appointment of a chairperson or a member shall be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy in the selection committee." The selection committee, led by the Prime Minister, has as its members the Lok Sabha Speaker, leader of opposition in the Lower House, the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him, and an eminent jurist who could be nominated by the President or any other member.

However, the government is looking for ways to decide on the appointment of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners in the Central Information Commission (CIC). — PTI

No need of Oppn leader in selection panel