Not well known for its speedy style of functioning earlier, the lokayukta office has probably scored a first this time around.
The office of anti-corruption ombudsman, which got a new face after a gap of almost one year early this February only, has went on examining 411 cases and settled 162 in just about 20 days time which is an impressive feat in any terms.
Sources in the office confided to The Pioneer that since January 2, 2016 when Justice (Retd) Amreshwar Sahay retired, nearly 250 complaints were lodged till the new incumbent joined. Since there was no hearing continued all the grievances were being shelved and gathering dust.
“In total, the lokayukta office had accumulated complaints numbering around 1125 before the new lokayukta Justice (Retd) DN Upadhaya joined on February 13 here. But since then he has started working on the cases in speedy manner and daily disposal is being done. Till date, as many as 162 complaints have been disposed of on the grounds of their non-maintainability or for being heard some where else such as High Court,” said an official on Thursday.
It is being observed that due to elongated lull prevailing over there interest of complainants in general towards the lokayukta office for remedy was on sleepy slope. “Rate of applications coming before us for remedy which had declined thick and fast is now gaining momentum once again. After the office becoming active again there are nearly 28 fresh applications that have come before us,” he added.
Though the lokayukta has not started hearing the cases so far and the office is busy listing the matters for that. “We have got instruction from the sir (lokayukta) that contact all such complainants on their mobile phone and also send them notices with registered posts informing them about date of hearing. We have started doing that. letters are also being sent to the applicants and we expect that hearing would resume this month only,” said an official.
Moreover, the ombudsman is still short of desired resources. The post of Secretary is yet to be filled and Deputy Secretaries are running the affairs. Even the lokayukta had spelt soon after taking oath his priorities in which equipping the ombudsman’s office with its own investigation arm topped the list.
He had went on suggesting that the Government can designate some investigating officers from the Anti-Corruption Bureau to work for lokayukta separately which would make them independent to an extent.