India’s first Lokpal Pinaki Chandra Ghose
India’s first Lokpal Pinaki Chandra Ghose 
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Former Supreme Court Judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose Appointed As India’s First Lokpal 

BySwarajya Staff

The President of India Ramnath Kovind has appointed former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose as India's first Lokpal.

Justice Ghose is currently serving as a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Ghose has practised in civil, commercial, arbitration, constitutional and company matters both in the original and appellate side at Calcutta High Court.

The President also appointed judicial and non-judicial members of the Lokpal:

Judicial Members

2. Justice Dilip B. Bhosale

3. Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty

4. Justice Abhilasha Kumari

5. Justice Ajay Kumar Tripathi

Members other than Judicial Members

6. Dinesh Kumar Jain

7. Archana Ramasundaram

8. Mahender Singh

9. Indrajeet Prasad Gautam

As per the press release by Rashtrapathi Bhavan, the appointments will take effect from the dates they assume charge of their respective offices.

A selection committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (18 March) recommended the former Supreme Court judge P C Ghose as the country’s top corruption watchdog.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 was passed by Indian Parliament paving the way for establishment of a Lokpal (Ombudsman) to fight corruption in public offices and ensure accountability on the part of public officials, including the Prime Minister.

Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50 per cent will be judicial members 50 per cent members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women.

Selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal will be done through a selection committee consisting of Prime Minister, Speaker of Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI.

Lokpal's jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. All entities (NGOs) receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year will also come under the jurisdiction of Lokpal.