Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said that since the advertisement is contrary to the provisions of The Lokpal and the Lokayukta Act, he will write to the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Chief Justice of India and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha about their function being "usurped" by the Department of Personnel and Training.
He also said that though the power to invite applications for the Lokpal and its members rests with the Selection Committee, of which the above four are members and another will be appointed with their consent, a job seeking judge may not be the best person to be appointed as a member of the Lokpal.
"In any case, whether applications are to be invited or not has to be decided by the Selection Committee. The Union Government is wholly alien to this power. The advertisement issued in this regard is contrary to the provisions of the Act. The advertisement which is illegal requires to be withdrawn," he said.
Jaitley said the four members of the Selection Committee have to first meet and appoint another member and after the full Selection Committee is formed, they will appoint a Search Committee comprising at least seven members, which will carry out the search procedure.
Noting that retired judges who lobby with the establishment with their CVs compromise their self-respect and dignity. "A job seeking Judge may not be the best person to be appointed as a member of the Lokpal," he said.