March 2019 Persons in News

• Former Supreme Court judge Pinaki Chandra Ghose appointed India's first Lokpal
  
  Former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose has been appointed as the country's first Lokpal.
  
  According to a communique issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Ram Nath Kovind has appointed the Chairman of the Lokpal along with other members of the anti-corruption watchdog.
  
  The Lokpal will have four judicial and four non-judicial members. Former Chief Justices - Dilip B. Bhosale, Pradip Kumar Mohanty, and Abhilasha Kumari and sitting Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court Ajay Kumar Tripathi - have been appointed as judicial members.
  
  The non-judicial members are: former first woman Chief of Sashastra Seema BAL Archana Ramasundaram, ex-Maharashtra Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar Jain, former IRS officer Mahender Singh and ex-IAS officer Indrajeet Prasad Gautam.
  
  66-year old Justice Ghose retired as Supreme Court judge in May, 2017. He is a member of the National Human Rights Commission since 29th June, 2017.
  
  The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, which envisages appointment of a Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to look into cases of corruption against certain categories of public servants, was passed in 2013.
  
  
• Goa CM Manohar Parrikar passes away at 63
  Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar passed away in Panaji 17 March 2019 evening after a prolonged illness.
  
  He was 63. Mr. Parrikar was diagnosed with a pancreatic ailment in February 2018. Since then, he received treatment at various hospitals across Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa and the US.
  
  A six-time MLA and former Defence Minister, Mr. Parrikar was born on 13th December, 1955. He graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai with a B Tech degree in metallurgical engineering.
  
  Mr. Parrikar was first elected to the Goa assembly in 1994.
  
  He served as Chief Minister of the state during October 2000 to February 2005; and March 2012 to November 2014.
  
  From November 2014 till March 2017, he served as the Union Defence Minister. Mr. Parrikar returned to Goa in March 2017 as the State Chief Minister.
  
  He served as a Rajya Sabha MP from November 2014 to September 2017.
  
  The popular leader would be remembered for his efforts in infrastructure and education development in the state and bringing the International Film Festival of India to Goa in 2004 for his role as the union defense minister and his dynamism.

Published date : 15 Apr 2019 03:30PM