The Vijay Bahuguna Cabinet has repealed the State lokayukta-2011 which was passed during the previous BJP regime led by Maj Gen Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri, and decided to implement an anti-graft ombudsman on the lines of the Centre's lokpal Act-2013.
For this, the Cabinet has decided to call a three-day special session of Assembly on January 13. This was confirmed by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday. The Cabinet has also decided to give VAT relaxation to the entrepreneurs if they make an investment of Rs 300 crore, including 50 per cent capital investment for next 10 years. With this incentive, Vijay Bahuguna Government wants to revamp the state economy, which has been witnessing financial losses after june disaster.
The State Cabinet has decided to repeal the Uttarakhand lokayukta Act passed by the BJP Government in 2011 and later approved by the president in 2013 and replace it with a new legislation modelled on the lokpal Bill to pave the way for creation of an effective anti-corruption watchdog. The Cabinet also decided to convene a special session of the Assembly from January 13 to introduce and pass the new lokayukta bill. On January 13, the Governor will make their address because it would be first session of January 2014 and later act will be tabled on January 15 and will have discussion on January 16. It will be implemented by March 6.
Addressing media persons after the Cabinet meeting, CM Bahuguna said that the new lokayukta bill, which will replace the Uttarakhand lokayukta Bill passed by the State Assembly during Gen Khanduri's tenure, is modelled on the Centre's lokpal and will have the chief minister under the ambit of its investigation. To facilitate State lokayukta, State Government will constitute the State Vigilance Commission (SVC) on the pattern of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
The lokayukta can investigate the matter upto the last seven years. With this, the CM has given enough hint that their government would conduct enquiry of entire BJP regime in between 2007-12. The five-member lokayukta body will be headed by the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court and will have two seats reserved, one each for a woman and one SC/ST member on the panel, he said.
CM further said that Cabinet has decided to implement as if is of lokpal passed by the Parliament. At the Centre, the Prime Minister comes under the ambit of the lokpal and here, the Chief Minister would come under the ambit of lokayukta. Soon after the Cabinet briefing by the Chief Minister, the ruling Congress appealed to all political parties to cooperate with the Government to ensure the passage of the new lokayukta Bill in the Assembly and help in creation of an effective anti-corruption ombudsman in the State.