The Government should consider amending the Goa Lokayukta Act to enable any retired High Court judge to be appointed as Lokayukta. Currently, in terms of the Act, only a retired judge of the Supreme Court or a retired High Court Chief Justice can be appointed as Lokayukta. If a retired High Court judge is made eligible it would facilitate the filling of the vacancy.
Earlier, the law was amended to enable a retired High Court judge to head the Goa Human Rights Commission and a similar amendment to the Goa Lokayukta Act could be done by way of an ordinance.
The post of Lokayukta has been vacant since September 17 consequent to the retirement of Justice P K Misra. There is a need to expeditiously fill the vacancy so that the very vital institution of the Lokayukta starts functioning again in the State. The High Court of Bombay at Goa on September 23 had directed the Goa Government to fill the vacancy of the Lokayukta within three months.
It is also imperative that for its proper functioning the institution of Lokayukta be provided all the required infrastructure including an investigative team to assist the Lokayukta.
