KT Thomas refuses to head Lokpal search panel

Retired judge of Supreme Court Mr. K.T.Thomas refused to head the Lokpal Committee Search panel. He refused on 3rd March 2014. 

Mr. K.T. Thomas claimed that panel constituted for this purpose will not be albe to conduct an independent search as it is mandated to pick names only from a government drawn list.  

The eight-member search committee is mandated to prepare a panel of persons to be considered by the Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for appointment of chairperson and members of Lokpal. 

Members of Lokpal Committee Search panel were : 

• Justice K T Thomas, 
• Fali Nariman (senior advocate),
• S.Y.Qureshi (former Chief Election Commissioner), 
• Meenakshi Gopinath (Principal, LSR College), 
• Mrinal Miri (Educationist), 
• Kaki Madhava Rao (ex-AP Chief Secretary) and 
• H.K. Dua (Rajya Sabha MP)

Important to note : 

• Few days before senior Supreme Court lawyer Fali S Nariman also opted out of the search committee 
• Mr. K.T. Thomas was unanimously chosen to head the Search Panel by the Lokpal Selection Committee on 21st February 2014.
• Mr. K.T. Thomas was a judge in the apex court between March 29, 1996 to January 1, 2002.

Selection Procedure of the Lokpal

• Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 lays down a two-layered Lokpal selection process.
• Firstly, Lokpal Selection Committee must set up a Search Committee to shortlist possible candidates for the 9-member Lokpal body including Chairperson. The Selection Committee will comprise of the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India or any other Supreme Court judge he may appoint and an eminent jusrist nominated by the President or any member.
• Currently the Selection Committee comprises of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Supreme Court Justice H L Dattu (representative of the Chief Justice of India), and jurist P P Rao (the fifth member).
• Secondly, Search Committee will finalise and recommend the names to the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee may or may not consider the names for the Lokpal.
• Lastly, the Lokpal Selection Committee will forward the shortlisted names for the constitution of Lokpal body to the President of India. Upon receiving the names, President of India will appoint the Chairperson and other members of the Lokpal.