The Rajasthan Assembly on Monday passed the Rajasthan Lokayukta and Up-Lokyuktas (Amendment) Bill to reduce the tenure of the Lokayukta from earlier eight years to five years.
The Bill was presented by Energy Minister B.D. Kalla in the House on behalf of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and was passed by voice vote.
Under the amendment in the Bill, which was brought to replace an ordinance issued in March this year, the tenure of the Lokayukta has been reduced to five years from eight years.
The previous BJP government had increased the Lokayukta’s tenure to eight years from five years last year.
“Recently, the term of office of the Lokayukta was increased from five years to eight years by amending section 5 of the Rajasthan Lokayukta and Up-Lokayuktas Act, 1973. But in most of the States of the country the Lokayukta holds the office for a term of five years.
“Moreover, the term of the chairperson under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (Central Act No. 1 of 2014) is also five years,” the statement of objects and reasons of the Bill said.
“In order to maintain parity with the term of Lokayukta in other States of the country and, chairperson of Lokpal in the Centre, it was decided by the State government that term of five years is adequate for the office of the Lokayukta,” it further said.
Heated arguments
During the debate on the Bill, heated arguments broke out between Speaker C.P. Joshi and Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore when the latter was asked to be specific on the topic.