New Delhi, Feb 23: Reprimanded by the Supreme Court over delay in appointment of anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal, the Centre on Friday said the process is underway. The selection panel, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan are scheduled to meet on March 1, the apex court was informed by the government.

The court, while hearing the petition filed by NGO Common Cause, had asked the Centre to explain the delay in appointment of Lokpal, despite the law being passed by the Parliament five years ago in 2013.

The Modi government, in April last year, told the bench that the process was hindered due to no Leader of Opposition appointed in the Lok Sabha - who has to be included in the Lokpal Selection Panel.

The post could only be accorded to the opposition party which could win at least 10 percent of the total Lower House seats i.e. 54 parliamentary constituencies.

Since the Congress, the largest opposition in the Parliament, was reduced to 44 seats in the 2014 general elections, the post of Leader of Opposition had to be kept vacant.

The SC bench, however, had asked the government last year to go ahead with the meetings of Selection Panel without the Leader of Opposition.

The meeting of Lokpal's selection body on March 1 also comes in the backdrop of activist Anna Hazare threatening a mass agitation if the government fails to appoint the anti-corruption watchdog at the earliest.

"The government has shown a lax attitude so far. They have forced us to hit the streets once again," said Hazare, who is currently forming a new core committee to steer the "second Anna andolan".

Hazare's 2011 agitation against the then Manmohan Singh-led government over the non-appointment of Lokpal witnessed mass support across the nation. A section of activists associated with the movement later formed the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 23, 2018 12:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).