The Odisha lokayukta Abhiyan on Saturday urged Governor Dr SC Jamir to withhold his assent to the Odisha lokayukta Bill, 2014 alleging that the Bill suffers from repugnancies vis-à-vis functioning of the State Vigilance and appointment and transfer its officials.
In a letter to the Governor, members of the Abhiyan pointed out that the lokayukta Bill 2014 does not provide for giving independent and autonomous status to the Directorate of Vigilance in line with the lokpal and lokayukta Act 2013, which has laid down rules for functioning of the CBI and recruitment and transfer of its officials. The lokayukta Bill is required to follow the pattern of guidelines of the lokpal and lokayukta Bill as per the legislation, they remarked.
The lokayukta Bill has simply shied away from making any provision for transforming the Directorate of Vigilance into an independent and autonomous body, free of any Governmental control, the members observed.
The Odisha lokayukta Bill, in line with the Central Act, would provide for the appointment of Director Vigilance on the recommendation of a 3-Member Committee comprising Chief Minister, leader of Opposition and Chief Justice of High Court, the signatories in the letter observed.
They requested the Governor to examine the provisions of Odisha lokayukta Bill 2014 and withhold his assent to it and to return the said Bill to the State legislature with a request for its amendment in the interest of enactment of a proper Odisha lokayukta Act in line with the lokpal and lokayukta Act 2013.
The members also sent a copy to President Pranab Mukherjee. The members are Panchanan Kanungo, Rabi Das, Khirod Rout, Bisheswar Rout, Debendra Sutar and Sandeep Kumar Pattnaik.