Opposition leader M.K. Stalin on Thursday announced that he would not participate in the December 28 meeting called to constitute the search committee to find chairman and members (Panel of Persons) for the Lokayukta in Tamil Nadu.
Mr Stalin, a member of the selection committee, said he had pointed out the shortcomings when the Lokayukta Bill was introduced in Assembly. “But my objections were ignored and the Bill was passed in a hurried manner. The rules framed in the Bill will not help eradicating corruption and pave way for transparent investigation,” he said in a letter to Dr S. Swarna, secretary, Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department.
Mr. Stalin said the committee, headed by the Chief Minister, had more ruling party members and was not constituted as a five-member committee headed by a High Court judge.
“There is a danger that the Loyayukta might be converted into a body of officials. There is no investigation wing and prosecution wing. Moreover, it has not been empowered to investigate corruption in government contracts, tenders, appointments and other irregularities in the local administration,” Mr. Stalin said.
He pointed out that the provision for “secret investigation” defeated the procedure evolved by Parliament and the Supreme Court.