Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, who served as the Chairman of the Law Commission for 17 months, has stepped down from the position. He is set to be sworn in as one of the three judicial members of the Lokpal at 11 am on Wednesday. Alongside Justice Awasthi, the President of India has appointed Justice Lingappa Swamy and Justice Sanjay Yadav as the other judicial members of the Lokpal. This follows the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which mandates the composition of the Lokpal to include one chairperson and a maximum of eight other members, of whom four need to be judicial members.
New Delhi: Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, the Chairman of the Law Commission of India, has stepped down from his position after a 17-month tenure. His resignation was submitted to the Ministry of Law and Justice on Tuesday, marking the end of his leadership within the commission. Justice Awasthi has been appointed as one of the three new judicial members of the Lokpal and is slated to take his oath on Wednesday at 11 am.
Justice Awasthi’s career in the judiciary has been notable. Prior to leading the Law Commission, he served as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court from October 11, 2021, to July 2, 2022. His judicial journey also includes a significant period as a judge at the Allahabad High Court, spanning from April 13, 2009, to October 10, 2021.
Justice Awasthi, a graduate in law from Lucknow University in 1986, has a long-standing legal career having been enrolled as an advocate on February 1, 1987. He has been known for his practice in civil service and educational matters at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court and has held the position of Assistant Solicitor General of India at Lucknow before his elevation to the judiciary.
His appointment comes at a crucial time as the Lokpal, India’s premier anti-corruption ombudsman, welcomes new judicial members. Alongside Justice Awasthi, the President of India has appointed Justice Lingappa Swamy and Justice Sanjay Yadav as the other judicial members of the Lokpal. This follows the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, which mandates the composition of the Lokpal to include one chairperson and a maximum of eight other members, of whom four need to be judicial members.
The non-judicial members of the Lokpal, as outlined by the same act, are distinguished individuals with a minimum of twenty-five years of experience in various fields pertinent to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance, law, and management. These positions are crucial in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the Lokpal as it undertakes the responsibility of investigating allegations of corruption within the central government.
The anti-corruption body has been operating without a full-time chairperson since May 2022, underlining the significance of the newly appointed members. The new Chairman of the Law Commission, succeeding Justice Awasthi, is Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar, who brings extensive experience from his previous roles as a judge of the Supreme Court of India, Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and Himachal Pradesh High Court, and a judge of the Bombay High Court.
This transition marks a pivotal moment for both the Law Commission and the Lokpal as they continue their respective mandates. The Law Commission remains a key advisory body on legal reform in India, while the Lokpal is instrumental in overseeing and acting against corruption within the government’s ranks. The appointments signal a continued commitment to legal expertise and anti-corruption efforts at the highest levels of India’s judicial and administrative frameworks.
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