Uttarakhand High Court Demands Urgent Action for Lokayukta Appointment

The Uttarakhand High Court criticized the state government for delays in appointing a Lokayukta. A division bench ordered a response within 24 hours and warned of consequences. This directive emerged during a PIL plea emphasizing the need for a transparent investigative mechanism amid recent scams and government-dependent investigations.

The Uttarakhand High Court has expressed sharp dissatisfaction with the state government's delayed efforts to appoint a Lokayukta, a move considered crucial for establishing a transparent investigatory framework.

A division bench, led by Chief Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Subhash Upadhyay, has mandated the government to respond within 24 hours, addressing why prior directives were overlooked. Failure to comply will necessitate the personal appearance of the concerned secretary before the court on May 15.

The court's firm stance came amidst a hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed in 2021, calling for the immediate filling of the Lokayukta post, which despite attracting significant annual expenditure, remains unoccupied. The petitioner argues that existing state investigative bodies operate under governmental control, lacking autonomy to file corruption cases against high-ranking officials.