The Supreme Court today sought response from the Centre on a petition filed by an NGO questioning the entire selection process for appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal and seeking its stay.

A bench of justices R M Lodha and Kurian Joseph issued notice and asked the Centre to justify within four weeks the Search Committee Rules, 2014 framed under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2014.

Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran, who was present in the court, accepted the notice on behalf of the Centre.

The plea of the NGO has sought to declare illegal the rules under which selections are being done.

The PIL has sought a declaration that certain provisions of the rules are ultra vires of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act and also sought quashing of the entire selection process
initiated under the rules alleging that it is illegal, arbitrary and violative of Article 14 of the Constitution.

It has said that the government is going ahead with the selection process despite there being serious flaws in the rules under which selections are being done.