Former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose is set to be India's first Lokpal after being finalised by the selection committee appointed by the Centre last year.
The Lokpal has the authority to probe complaints against current and former prime ministers, union ministers, Members of Parliament, government and PSU employees, and employees of non-governmental organisations that receive more than Rs 10 lakh-a-year in foreign contributions, among others. The Lokpal Act was notified in 2014 to form a panel of ombudsmen to look into cases of corruption and maladministration by public servants. No Lokpal however had been appointed till now. As per the act, the Lokpal's role will include working with the Central Vigilance Commission and order any investigating agency, including CBI, to probe allegations of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
A formal notification of his appointment will most likely be released next week. Selection of eight others as members of the national anti-corruption ombudsman will be announced next week too.
Selection committee for the post includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and an eminent jurist. Justice Ghose retired from the Supreme Court in May 2017.
