President Ram Nath Kovind administered the oath of office to Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose as Lokpal chairperson. Justice Ghose, the former Supreme Court judge, was on March 19 appointed as the country’s first Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman. He was serving as the member of the National Human Rights Commission when his name was announced for the post of Lokpal chairperson.

As Lokpal of the country, Justice Ghose has the power to probe into allegations of corruption against sitting and former ministers and parliamentarians. His appointment comes five years after the Lokpal Act was approved by the President on January 1, 2014.

Justice Ghose retired as a Supreme Court judge in 2017. He was elevated to the top court in 2013, after serving as a judge of the Calcutta High Court and Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh High Court. As the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, he had convicted Sasikala, close aide of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, in a corruption case.

Justice Ghose will hold his office for a term of five years or till he is 70.