Supreme Court appoints Justice Sanjay Mishra as new Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta

Recalling its earlier order appointing Justice Virendra Singh as Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta, the Supreme Court on Thursday selected a new appointee.

The top court said former judge of Allahabad HC Sanjay Mishra will replace Justice Virendra Singh as the new Lokayukta .

In an unusual order, the Court on December 16 exercised its constitutional authority and appointed former High Court judge, Justice Virendra Singh, as Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh after the state government had failed to comply with its orders by not appointing the chief of the state's anti-graft ombudsman.

However, the Supreme Court had on January 20 reserved its verdict after pleas seeking recall of its order appointing Justice Virendra Singh as the Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh, saying it has been "misled" on the issue.

During the winter vacation, the Supreme Court had heard a fresh plea filed by one Sachidanand Gupta who had alleged that the SP government had "concealed facts" about Justice Singh and "played fraud" upon the apex court.

Prior to this, the apex court had on December 14 rapped the UP government for not appointing Lokayukta in the state despite its directions and asked it to make the appointment by December 16.