UP governor rejects SP government’s choice of Lok Ayukta nominee

Lucknow: In yet another set back for the Samajwadi Party’s government, the Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik has rejected the Akhilesh Yadav government’s choice of Lok Ayukta, justice Raveendra Singh. While returning the appointment file to the state government the governor said that Singh was unsuitable for the post and suggested that the state government propose a few other names after following due procedures and consultations laid down by the Supreme Court.

Stating that he was not bound to accept the recommendation, Naik returned the file asking the state government to send a name “except (that of) Justice Singh” at the earliest. Singh had demitted office last month as judge of the Allahabad High Court. “There is a due procedure which is followed in the Lokayukta’s appointment. The cabinet has no role here,” he said in his 17-page reply to the government. “I, therefore, decline to accept the said recommendation made by the Chief Minister or the state council of ministers in favour of Singh for his appointment as the new Lokayukta of Uttar Pradesh,” Naik wrote.

The ball is now in the government’s court. According to government sources, initially it was planning to send the Lokayukta file back to Naik for the fifth time on Tuesday itself without much change, but given the tone and tenor of his reply, it has now decided to hold legal consultations before taking next step.