New Delhi, March 23 (Agency) Former judge of Jharkhand High Court Harish Chandra Mishra was sworn-in as the Lokayukta of Delhi in a ceremony held at Raj Niwas on Wednesday. Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal administered the oath to Justice Mishra in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Mishra will hold office for a term of five years from his date of appointment, which the Delhi Government said, was made in consultation with the CM. The post of Lokayukta in Delhi was lying vacant since December 2020 after Rewa Khetrapal retired.
The Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi have been targeted by the opposition for not appointing the Lokayukta in the national capital. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was also filed in Delhi High Court seeking a direction to the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to appoint a Lokayukta within one month as promised by the party in its 2020 election manifesto. Before Khetrapal who had assumed the office in November 2015, Justice (retired) Manmohan Sarin was the Lokayukta. He retired from the post in 2013. Justice Mishra has also served as the Acting Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court.