With curtain still to be unfolded over who will be the next ombudsman of the State, now the battle will also start to look for new Up-lokayukta, as the present incumbent Swantantra Singh’s tenure is also going to expire on Wednesday. Singh is the first deputy to State Ombudsman and was selected during Mayawati’s regime.

However, like lokayukta Justice (retd) NK Mehrotra, who would continue till the new ombudsman will be selected, Singh, would also continue till the next appointment. Sources also said that this time the battle for Up-lokayukta could be more tougher as existing law not mentioned any eligibility criteria for selection to the post which opened the door for all those who were close to power to flex their muscles. Interestingly, unlike lokayukta, existing law also permits state government to go in for more than one Up-lokayukta which would further facilitate tug of war between the candidates.

Swantantra Singh, the first Up-lokayukata of the State was sworn on October 1, 2007 and his eight year tenure expired on September 30, 2015 i.e on Wednesday.  Singh, who got one month extension after he retired from post of Registrar of Allahabad High Court on August 31, 2007, was then selected as deputy to state ombudsman, NK Mehrotra. The decision to appoint Up-lokayukta was taken by then chief minister Mayawati.  However, as no move has been made to select new Up-lokayukata so far, it is evident that Singh will continue on of the post further.  According to UP lokayukta Act, for selection of Up-lokayukata or Up-lokayuktas, consultation should be made with the lokayukta after reaching on consensus with the leader of Opposition. Unlike for lokayukta, where a candidate should be sitting or retired judge of a High Court, for Up-lokayukta, no such eligibility criteria has been mentioned in the Act, thus the race for selection to deputy-ombudsman of the State is opened for everyone.