Former supreme court judge and chairperson of national green tribunal justice L S Panta took oath as Lokayukta of Himachal Pradesh.

The office of Lokayukta had been lying vacant since the expiry of term of justice Bhawani Singh on May 4, 2011.

Himachal Pradesh was one of the first states to appoint Lokayukta in 1983 when the then government headed by chief minister V.B.Singh passed the Lokayukta Act. Justice T.V.R.

Tatachari was appointed first Lokayukta of the state.

Governor Urmilla Singh, chief minister P.K.Dhumal, assembly speaker Tulsi Ram and leader of the opposition Vidya Stokes, acting chief justice of high court R.B. Mishra, were among those present at the swearing in.