Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh has been appointed as the new Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh. Justice Singh was appointed as Lokayukta under Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta Adhiniyam 1981, the order stated. He is successor of Justice Naresh Kumar Gupta whose tenure ended on October 17 last year. The General Administration Department (GAD) of the State Government issued an order in this regard. The Governor appoints the Lokayukta after consulting with a committee comprising Chief Minister, Speaker Assembly and Leader of Opposition. Appointment of the Lokayukta is facilitated with the consent of Leader of Opposition and the Chief Juistice of High Court as per the Lokayukta Act. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar raised fingers on the appointment. According to him, due procedure has not been followed in the appointment.

 

Singhar stated and appealed to the State Government that his consultation was not taken for appointment of Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh. The notification issued by the Government should be considered null and void.” Earlier, Satyendra Kumar Singh, has worked as Additional Registrar (Vigilance) in High Court of MP, Jabalpur, Special Judge SC/ST Act and first AJ to first ADJ Ujjain, District and Sessions Judge, Alirajpur, Ujjain and Principal Registrar (Vigilance) HC of MP, Jabalpur and Principal Secretary, Government of MP, Law and Legislative Affairs Department, Bhopal. The Lokayukta is appointed by the Governor of the State, through nomination by its Chief Minister (in consensus with Chief justice of the State High Court, Leaders of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and Chairman of the Legislative Council).

 

Once appointed, Lokayukta cannot be dismissed nor transferred by the Government and can only be removed by passing an impeachment motion by the State Assembly. Any person who is a judge or a retired Chief Justice or a retired judge of the High Court is eligible to be appointed as Lokayukta. The Government of India, on the basis of the Administrative Reforms Commission report and its recommendation, established the institution of Lokayukta on the pattern of the Ombudsman Institution and introduced a bill that provided for the appointment of Lok-Pal and its deputies at the national level and included Lokayukta for the states.