Akhilesh govt's `political Lokayukta' angers SC

The Supreme Court has taken seriously the Akhilesh Yadav government's misleading the court in the appointment of the UP Lokayukta. The court said it would take the call on whether to scrap or continue the appointment of Justice Veerendra Singh to the position soon. Last month, the Supreme Court appointed Justice Veerendra Singh (Retd.) as UP Lokaukta on the recommendation of a three-member committee. The committee comprised Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the opposition Swami Prasad Maurya and Allahabad High Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. The committee had said that it was trying to make a unanimous recommendation. However, a few days letter the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice conveyed it to the Supreme Court that Justice Veerendra Singh did not have the required personality to befit the position. In a letter, the Chief Justice also pointed out that even the leader of the opposition held a similar view in regard to the new appointee.