Ex Supreme Court Judge AM Khanwilkar Sworn In As Lokpal Chairperson
Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar was appointed as the Lokpal chairperson in the last week of February.
New Delhi: Former Supreme Court judge Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar on Sunday sworn in as the Lokpal chairperson, nearly two years after the post fell vacant.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Khanwilkar at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, according to an official statement.
Khanwilkar, 66, served as a Supreme Court judge from May 13, 2016, to July 29, 2022. He was appointed as the Lokpal chairperson in the last week of February.
VIDEO | President Droupadi Murmu administers oath to the second Lokpal chairperson Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/ip7cLILCbx
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 10, 2024
"President Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office of Chairperson, Lokpal to Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan," Rastrapati Bhawan posted on X.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office of Chairperson, Lokpal to Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/ljOKpEXPGY
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) March 10, 2024
Chairperson of the Law Commission of India and former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court Ritu Raj Awasthi, former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Lingappa Narayana Swamy, and former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Sanjay Yadav were appointed as judicial members in the Lokpal.
The Lokpal was functioning without its regular chief since Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose completed his term on May 27, 2022.
Justice (retired) Khanwilkar played a pivotal role in several constitutional benches of the apex court, delivering significant judgments, reported PTI.
One of the landmark verdicts occurred in September 2018, wherein the top court deemed Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), criminalizing consensual gay sex, as "irrational, indefensible, and manifestly arbitrary."
Additionally, he was part of a constitution bench that upheld the constitutionality of the Centre's flagship Aadhaar scheme. However, certain provisions, such as linking Aadhaar to bank accounts, mobile phones, and school admissions, were struck down.
Born in Pune, Khanwilkar had also been Chief Justice of the High Courts of Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the PTI report added.
The President appoints the chairperson and members of the Lokpal based on the recommendations of a Selection Committee chaired by the Prime Minister.
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