The Naveen Patnaik Government seems to be in a hurry to take credit of being the first State regime to implement the lokayukta law trying to divert attention from the Shah Commission’s indictment against it in the mining scam.
Sources said the Government is all set to bring an Ordinance for appointment of lokayukta by the end of this month without waiting for the State Assembly’s Budget session in February.
A draft of the Ordinance has already been prepared and sent to the law Department for its opinion, suggestions and recommendations, said the sources.
The draft of the ordinance was prepared in a record three days’ time after the Chief Minister announced that his Government would bring the lokayukta Act within a month.
The sources revealed that the lokayukta would be chosen jointly by a panel comprising the Assembly Speaker, Chief Minister, leader of the Opposition, Chief Justice of the High Court and a person nominated by the Governor as its members.
Eight nominated members would assist the lokayukta in his work and a Director of Prosecution would be appointed for conducting investigations, according to the provisions in the Draft Ordinance, the sources further revealed.
Principal Secretary, Public Grievances & Pension Administration Department Sangram Keshari Mishra reportedly said the Draft Ordinance would be put up for the State Cabinet’s approval very soon.
According to the rules of business in Odisha, lokapal and lokayukta fall under the purview of the Public Grievances & Pension Administration Department.
A judge of the rank of the Chief Justice of the High Court would be appointed as the lokayukta.
The lokayukta would be paid a salary equivalent to that of the HC Chief Justice. While the lokayukta’s term has been fixed at five years, the superannuation limit is 70 years.
The panel nominating the lokayukta would also nominate eight members for assisting the lokayukta in his work. While four members would of the rank of HC judges, the other members would be nominated from among distinguished personalities who have achieved excellence in different fields. Two seats out of these would be reserved for persons belonging to SC, ST, women and other categories.
The lokayukta would nominate the Director of Prosecution. The Chief Minister, other Ministers, State Vigilance, private organisations and Government employees would come under the jurisdiction of the lokayukta.
While the Public Grievances & Pension Administration Department prepared the draft within three days, it would receive the approval of the law Department by the end of the second week January and a memorandum on the draft is expected to be ready by the third week and the Government is all set to bring the Ordinance by the end of the month.