The Odisha lokayukta Abhijan, a forum of intellectuals and activists, dubbed the Odisha lokayukta Bill 2014 and outgoing UPA II Government’s panel of names for the posts of chairperson and members of lokpal as ultra vires since they go against the very spirit of the parent law.
It decided to have a public debate on the issue so that the State and the Centre amend their landmark anti-corruption legislations without tampering with the very objectives and sanctity of the parent law.
The forum in its core group meeting held on May 21, last decided to initiate debate ‘Civil society round table on Odisha lokayukta Bill 2014 and Central lokpal Search Committee Rules 2014’ on June 2.
The forum alleged that both the State and the Central Governments have played truant with the letter and spirit of the parent law by rendering the lokpal or lokayukta toothless.
“Both the State and Central Governments have played truant with the letter and spirit of the parent law. The State Government in its enthusiasm to show itself as the country’s first State to enact the lokayukta law, got the Odisha lokayukta Bill 2014 passed in the Assembly without giving a reasonable space to the Opposition for a threadbare discussion on the floor of the Assembly and thereby left serious loopholes in the law,” said a release issued by the forum.
It decried the UPA-II Government’s mode of preparing the panel of names for the posts of chairperson and members of lokpal as revealed from the Search Committee (Constitution, Terms and Conditions of appointment of members and the manner of selection of panel of names for appointment of chairperson and members of lokpal) Rules, 2014, notified on January 17, last.
The forum hailed a recent Supreme Court verdict to allow investigating agencies to inquire corruption cases pertaining to top Government officials without permission of the Government.