Former Supreme Court judge Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar was appointed as the chairperson of Lokpal on Tuesday, succeeding Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty.
Key Points:
- Appointment: Justice Khanwilkar’s appointment was made by President Droupadi Murmu.
- Notification: The Rashtrapati Bhavan issued a communique announcing Justice Khanwilkar’s appointment.
- Judicial Members: Alongside Justice Khanwilkar, Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy, Justice Sanjay Yadav, and Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi were appointed as judicial members.
- Non-Judicial Members: The non-judicial members appointed include Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar, and Ajay Tirkey.
- Acting Chairperson: Until Justice Khanwilkar’s appointment, Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty served as the acting chairperson.
- Selection Process: The President appoints the chairperson and members of the Lokpal based on the recommendations of a Selection Committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
- Composition: The Lokpal can have up to eight members, including four judicial and four non-judicial members.
- Vacancy: The Lokpal had been functioning without a regular chief since the completion of Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose’s term on May 27, 2022.
Background and Career of Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar
Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar, prior to his appointment as the chairperson of Lokpal, had a distinguished career in the judiciary.
Career Highlights:
- Supreme Court Tenure: Justice Khanwilkar served as a judge of the Supreme Court from May 13, 2016, until his retirement on July 29, 2022.
- Landmark Judgments: He was involved in several significant judgments, including those related to the Sabarimala women entry, decriminalization of homosexuality, and the validity of Aadhaar.
- Notable Cases: Justice Khanwilkar led the bench that upheld the exoneration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots case.
- Common Cause v Union of India: He was part of the majority of the five-judge bench in the Common Cause v Union of India (2018) case, which held that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right under Article 21.
- Previous Roles: Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Khanwilkar served as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh High Courts and as a judge of the Bombay High Court.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- Who was appointed as the chairperson of Lokpal on Tuesday?
- A) Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy
- B) Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar
- C) Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty
- D) Justice Sanjay Yadav
- How many judicial members were appointed alongside Justice Khanwilkar?
- A) One
- B) Two
- C) Three
- D) Four
- Who served as the acting chairperson of Lokpal before Justice Khanwilkar’s appointment?
- A) Justice Lingappa Narayana Swamy
- B) Justice Sanjay Yadav
- C) Justice Pradip Kumar Mohanty
- D) Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi
- Which case established the right to die with dignity as a fundamental right under Article 21?
- A) Sabarimala women entry case
- B) Decriminalization of homosexuality case
- C) Common Cause v Union of India case
- D) Validity of Aadhaar case