Lokpal: CJI nominates Justice Dattu to selection committee

With the nomination of Justice HL Dattu to the Lokpal Selection Committee, four members of the panel that will select India’s first Lokpal are now final. [caption id=“attachment_968637” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam. PTI[/caption] According to a report in  The Indian Express, Justice Dattu is third in seniority in the Supreme Court of India after Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam and Justice R M Lodha. Justice Lodha is in line to take over as Chief Justice following Justice Sathasivam’s retirement in April this year. He is himself due to retire in September. According to the recently passed Lokpal Bill, the selection committee for the Lokpal will comprise the prime minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India or any other sitting SC judge nominated by the Chief Justice. The report said Justice Sathasivam had nominated Justice Dattu. The fifth member of the panel is to be selected by these four. The fifth member is  likely  to be an “eminent jurist”, with a shortlist to be taken up for consideration this week. With the nomination of Justice Dattu,  the CJI and Justice Lodha become eligible to become Lokpal, the report said.