It would be politically incorrect for a government whose term of office is getting over in a month to appoint a new statutory authority like the Lokpal. The mere publicising of the terms of appointment is no excuse for rushing through the selection of Lokpal because the process itself has been vitiated by the resignation of eminent jurists — Fali S. Nariman and Justice K.T. Thomas — from the selection panel.
A PIL has been filed calling for a halt to the appointment process. While only the SC can decide its maintainability, it stands to reason that the process of appointment of the first ever national ombudsman should be an inclusive process in which all stakeholders have their say.
Any hastening of the process would betray the interest of the ruling alliance wishing to pick its candidate for a post that should ideally be occupied by a very eminent, non-partisan personality. More than the post he holds, it is the decisions a Lokpal must take that should be of vital importance in the fight against graft. Also, since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly sounded out the Lokpal selection panel members on their availability between April 24 and 28 to meet and pick the nominees, there have been murmurs about the Lokpal having been picked already.
This has further compromised the process.
For years, political parties have either dragged their feet or were at odds over the very principle of appointing a Lokpal. If at all some urgency was shown it was owed to an apolitical Gandhian, Anna Hazare, who fought tooth and nail for it. A rushed appointment now would betray the partisan thinking of a government. Regardless of who wields power after the election process, it should be their duty to put the best man on that seat of vital accountability.
