Maurya proposed Justice Singh’s name?

LUCKNOW: The mystery over the inclusion of Justice Virednra Singh’s in the list of ‘potential’ candidates to become lokayukta now seems to be getting cleared. TOI investigation has revealed that in the meeting of the selection panel, his name was reportedly proposed by the leader of opposition Swami Prasad Maurya. Chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Chief Justice DY Chandrachud were the two other members of the panel at the meeting.
When TOI asked Maurya whether he proposed the candidature of Justice Singh, he did not deny it, saying “”Mamla court main hai . Jo kahna hoga mananiya nyayalaya ke samaksh hi kahunga.” (since the matter is sub-judice, I would say anything before the court only).
Sources say that while the CM okayed Maurya’s suggestion, Justice Chandrachud strongly objected to Justice Singh’s candidature citing his relationship with a senior minister. After the CJ’s objection, the CM dropped his name from his list during the second round of meeting of the panel on December 17. The CM’s list now had four candidates and CJ’s list had five. Both the list didn’t have the name of Justice Singh. Maurya though suggested the name of Justice Singh, he didn’t prepare any list of candidates.
As there was no unanimity between the CJ and the CM, the panel deiced to meet on December 17 evening again. However, before the third round of meeting, a list was sent by the government to the apex court bench hearing the case. This list had all the names of the CM’s panel barring change – Justice Zakiullah Khan had been replaced by Justice Singh. The bench selected Justice Singh from this list. However, his swearing-in was stayed after a PIL was filed against his selection.
Another point that has come up during TOI investigation is that the government tried till last to get the CJ’s opinion about the candidature of Justice AN Mittal, a serving judge, but it failed to get. “When the hearing was on in the Supreme Court in the afternoon, the registrar general of the high court was requested to get the CJ’s response on Justice Mittal till around 3 pm but it didn’t come,” said a senior functionary at the CM office.
A political observer says that though it’s a general impression that Justice Ravindra Singh Yadav and Justice Virendra Singh were the candidates of the state government, it’s also a fact that the leader of opposition Maurya didn’t opposed their candidature despite opposition from the chief justice.