New Delhi, Mar 1: The Lokpal Selection Committee, comprising of the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, the Speaker of Lok Sabha and leader of the single largest opposition party, is scheduled to meet today. Ahead of the meeting, however, Congress' legislature party chief in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said he would not be attending.

Kharge wrote a letter to PM Modi marking his dissent on being called a "special invitee" for the Lokpal Selection Committee meet.

Kharge was referred to as a 'special invitee', rather than a member of the selection panel, due to the lack of sufficient number of Congress MPs in the Lok Sabha.

As per the Lokpal Act passed in 2013, the selection committee would comprise of the Leader of Opposition (LoP), apart from the PM, CJI and Lok Sabha Speaker. However, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to invite the leader of single largest opposition party in Lok Sabha, since no LoP could be appointed.

To nominate the LoP, the single largest opposition party should at least win 10 percent of seats in the Lok Sabha, which translates to 54 out of the 540-member Lower House. The Congress, however, was restricted to 44 in the 2014 general elections.

Process to appoint Lokpal underway

Reprimanded by the top court last month over the delay in appointment of Lokpal -- despite the legislation being passed five years ago, Centre said the process to select the anti-corruption watchdog is underway.

Meanwhile, social activist Anna Hazare, who led a mass agitation between 2011 to 2013 seeking the appointment of Lokpal, blamed the NDA government for the unprecedented delay. "So far, this government has not shown a serious intent to fulfill our demand," he said, adding that he would launch a dharna from March 23 to press the government for action.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 01, 2018 10:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).