NEW DELHI, 10 Mar: Former Supreme Court judge Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar was administered the oath of office as the Lokpal chairperson on Sunday, nearly two years after the post fell vacant.
Khanwilkar (66) served as a judge of the apex court from 13 May, 2016 to 29 July, 2022.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Khanwilkar at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening, according to an official statement.
Khanwilkar was appointed as the Lokpal chairman in the last week of February.
Law Commission of India Chairperson Ritu Raj Awasthi, former chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Lingappa Narayana Swamy, and former chief justice of the Allahabad High Court Sanjay Yadav were appointed as judicial members of the Lokpal.
The Lokpal was functioning without a regular chief since Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose completed his term on 27 May, 2022.
The chairperson and members of the Lokpal are appointed by the president after obtaining the recommendations of a selection committee having the prime minister as its chairperson.
Apart from a chairperson, the Lokpal can have eight members – four judicial and as many non-judicial.
Former civil servants Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey have been appointed as the non-judicial members in the Lokpal. (PTI)