Search panel meets again to pick Lokpal

An eight-member search panel headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, formed to select members of anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, held its second meeting on Wednesday. The meeting took place to recommend names for Chairperson and Members of Lokpal. "All the Members of the Search Committee were present during the meeting," said the government in a statement.

The panel took note of the applications and nominations received in response to its advertisement dated February 6, 2019. The panel also took note of earlier applications received during the term of previous search committee and decided that as the term of the earlier committee had ended, these applications are not valid.

"Interested persons may apply afresh if they are eligible," the panel stated. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on February 25.

The first meeting — on January 29 — took place nearly four months after it was set up by the Narendra Modi government. The Supreme Court has set up a February-end deadline for the search committee to send a panel of names who could be considered for the appointment as chairman and members of Lokpal.

Panel Planks

• The panel took note of the applications and nominations received in response to its advertisement. 
• The first meeting on January 29 took place nearly four months after it was set up by the Modi government.