Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi has stepped down from his role as the Chairman of the Law Commission of India after a 17-month tenure. His resignation was tendered to the Ministry of Law and Justice, paving the way for a new chapter in his distinguished legal career.
Justice Awasthi, who assumed the position of Law Commission Chairman in November 2022, will now take oath as one of the three judicial members of the Lokpal. This momentous occasion will take place today, marking a pivotal transition for the eminent jurist.
The President of India recently appointed Justice Lingappa Swamy, Justice Sanjay Yadav, and Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi as the judicial members of the Lokpal, the apex anti-corruption body.
Prior to his role at the Law Commission, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi served as the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court from October 11, 2021, to July 2, 2022. His illustrious career also includes a tenure as a judge of the Allahabad High Court from April 13, 2009, to October 10, 2021, where he made significant contributions to the judiciary.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, mandates that the Lokpal organization comprises one chairperson and a maximum of eight other members. Among these, four are judicial members who have served as judges of the Supreme Court or chief justices of high courts. The remaining four members are non-judicial, individuals of impeccable integrity with substantial expertise in areas such as anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance, law, and management.
In the wake of Justice Awasthi’s resignation, the reins of the Law Commission now pass to the newly appointed Chairman, Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar. A former judge of the Supreme Court of India, Justice Khanwilkar brings a wealth of experience to this pivotal role. He has previously served as the chief justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and Himachal Pradesh High Court, as well as a judge of the Bombay High Court.
The Lokpal, an instrumental body in the fight against corruption, has been without a full-time chairperson since May 2022. Justice Awasthi’s induction as a judicial member heralds a new phase for the Lokpal, as it continues its mandate to investigate allegations of corruption against public functionaries within the central government. The Lokpal’s jurisdiction extends to matters connected to corruption, reaffirming its crucial role in promoting transparency and accountability in public life.
