New Lokayukta law to have CM, mins under ambit: Fadnavis

Nagpur: Years after social crusader Anna Hazare’s demand to have a Lokayukta in Maharashtra, on the lines of the Lokpal for the Central government in Delhi, the BJP-Shiv Seva (Balasaheb) government will table a bill for this in the winter assembly session commencing here on Monday. The new legislation will replace the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971.
The new law will also have the office of the chief minister and entire cabinet under its purview. It would empower the Lokayukta under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which was missing in the earlier law.
Addressing the media after the customary tea party ahead of the winter assembly session here, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the new anti-corruption body would be headed either by a retired Supreme Court judge or retired chief justice of high court. The five-member body would also have two retired high court judges and IAS officers.
“As Hazare had demanded Delhi-style Lokayukta, the earlier BJP government had constituted a panel under him to suggest recommendations. His panel submitted the report but the Maha Vikas Aghadi government took over, and did not pay any attention. After we took over, we accepted Hazare panel’s report and passed a proposal in today’s cabinet,” Fadnavis said.
Stressing that it was the most important decision of the BJP-Sena government, the deputy CM said the new law would help bring in total transparency in administration. He clarified they had not yet decided whether to implement the new legislation retrospectively.
CM Eknath Shinde said the BJP-Sena government would provide corruption free administration. Targeting opposition leader Ajit Pawar, who said earlier in the day that Shinde-Fadnavis government had done nothing in last six months since they took over reins, the CM said their cabinet had taken a bold decision to replace the toothless Lokayukta with a stronger version to prevent corruption.
Established to redress people's grievances against the Maharashtra government, the Lokayukta is an apex statutory functionary, independent of the governing political and public administration. The apex body was established through the ‘Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971’. The Lokayukta is appointed by the governor after consultations with the opposition leader in the assembly and their term is of five years, as per the existing Act. Lokayukta may investigate a public servant if it is referred by the state government, said government officials.
BOX
NEW LOKAYUKTA BILL
* CM included in purview for first time
* Will have powers through Prevention of Corruption Act
* Will be headed by retired SC judge or ex-CJ of HC
* 2 retired HC judges & IAS officer would be on panel
* It will operate two benches in Maharashtra