Ranchi, Feb. 9: Governor Droupadi Murmu today administered the oath of office and secrecy to former judge of Jharkhand High Court Justice D.N. Upadhyay as the state lokayukta at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

Speaking to the media later, Upadhyay, who is set to join office on Monday and will hold charge for the next five years, outlined his plans to make the state lokayukta an efficient body to deal with corruption cases.

"I will study the functioning of the lokayukta, which requires powers to carry out raids and investigations. Currently, corruption cases are investigated by an agency of the government such as police or ACB (anti-corruption bureau). This doesn't guarantee that investigations will always be free and fair. I will write to the state government to attach some ACB officials to the lokayukta who will be answerable towards my office," Upadhyay said.

He maintained that this would ensure speedy and impartial investigations. "I will expedite proper hearing of cases lodged by complainants. Since the office of lokayukta was vacant for the past one year, pending cases have increased," he added. The post had fallen vacant following the retirement of Justice Amareshwar Sahay.

Born and brought up in Jamshedpur, Upadhyay started his legal career in1979. He served as judge at civil courts in several districts.

After Jharkhand was formed in 2000, he was appointed as one among six special CBI judges in 2001 to hear the infamous animal husbandry case. He remained judicial commissioner of Ranchi from 2006 to 2010.

In 2011, Upadhyay was elevated as a high court judge. He retired on August 9 last year.