A division bench comprising Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal from the Uttarakhand High Court has issued a directive to the government, instructing them to select a Lokayukta within the upcoming three months.

In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) lodged by petitioner Ravi Shankar Joshi, the High Court has decreed that the wages of the personnel should not be debited from the Lokayukta’s office accounts until the Lokayukta assumes office. The bench has further instructed the government to obtain salaries for the 26 employees from alternate departments rather than the Lokayukta’s office.

While the government had initially requested a six-month extension to finalize appointments and disburse salaries for the Lokayukta office employees, the court has decreed a shorter timeframe. The government also noted that among the total of 26 employees in the Lokayukta’s office, nine are affiliated with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and are receiving their remuneration from there. Only 17 employees are presently being compensated from the Lokayukta office’s budget.

The petitioner has informed the court that despite the non-appointment of the Lokayukta thus far, a sum exceeding Rs 2 crore per annum is being expended on the Lokayukta office’s personnel.