Odisha Lokayukta to be appointed soon

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has approved a proposal for implementation of the Lokayukta Act in the State.

Notably, Odisha was first State to pass the Lokayukta Bill in the State Assembly on February 14, 2014, after passing of the Lokpal Bill in the Parliament in December 2013.

Official sources said the State Government has also come up with a proposal for formation of a search committee for appointment of a Lokayukta.

The Supreme Court had earlier directed the Chief Secretary to submit a status report on steps taken for appointment of a Lokayukta before July 10. Accordingly, this initiative has been taken.

Sources said though the Chief Minister had asked the concerned departments to complete the process for appointment of Lokayukta at the earliest, no gazette notification made in this regard during the past three years.

According to the provision of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, a four-member committee needs to be formed under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister with the Assembly Speaker, Leader of the Opposition and an expert as members. The Principal Secretary of the General Administration Department would be the Secretary of the committee.

The committee will form a five-member search committee, which will have a term of two years.

The members of the search committee will be given the rank of a Secretary.

The search committee would enlist five persons for the Lokayukta Chairperson post and 15 persons for Lokayukta Member posts and recommend their names to the selection committee headed by the Chief Minister.