The State Government on Tuesday introduced the much-awaited Odisha lokayukta Bill-2014 in the State Assembly. The much-awaited Bill envisages establishment of a body of lokayukta for Odisha to probe allegation of corruption against public servants and high-profile leaders.
The Bill was introduced by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das on behalf of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The Bill is scheduled to be passed after a threadbare debate on Wednesday, the penultimate day of the current vote-on-account session.
Odisha would be the first State in the country which is going to enact the lokayukta Act at the State-level as per the provision of the Central lokpal and lokayukta Act. Earlier in January last, three days after the Central Bill got the assent of the President of India, the Odisha Cabinet had decided to enact the lokayukta Act.
With the objective to further improve governance, infuse transparency in public life and fight corruption in effective manner, the lokayukta Bill has the provision of bringing the Chief Minister and the other members of the Council of Ministers, MlAs, party office bearers, Government employees, chairperson of Panchayat, Zila Parishad and Municipal bodies under its ambit. The lokayukta would conduct inquiry against them in connection with allegation of corruption made through a complaint.
The lokayukta would comprise a chairperson in the rank of Chief Justice of High Court or Judge of High Court or an eminent person in the field of public administration, finance, management or anti-corruption body. Besides, there would be five other members, two of whom shall be judicial members. The term of office of the chairperson and members would be five years from the date of assuming office.