The Supreme Court could not have asked a more relevant question to the Central government: why have you not appointed a Lok Pal for the last two years? For a government that has turned the financial system on his head by demonetising Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in the name of ridding the country of corruption, the observation of the apex court is not only embarrassing but also exposes the real intent, which is, to keep the post vacant. The Centre told the court that the Lok Pal could not be appointed as there is no Leader of Opposition, who is one of the members of the selection committee. This is a lame excuse as the government had amended the law for appointment of heads to the CBI, Central Vigilance Commission and Central Information Commission but conveniently forgot to make the relevant changes for appointment of the Lok Pal. The Lok Pal Act was passed after an agitation by civil society but it remains a dead law for want of a Lok Pal. If Prime Minister Narendra Modi wishes to project himself as an anti-corruption crusader he will have to expedite appointment of a Lok Pal or open himself to the charge of being two-faced.
