In an attempt to strengthen constitutional bodies Governor Ram Naik has written to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav asking him to reply to the queries of lokayukta which is “mandatory as per law.”
“It is must for the State Government to reply to lokayukta. But it has come to my knowledge that government sometime does not follow that routine courtesy. I have written a letter to Chief Minister to ensure that such courtesies are maintained and reciprocated,” Naik told The Pioneer here on Thursday.
He said that the Government is bound to lay the Action Taken Report of lokayukt on the table of the House so it is mandatory for the Government to reply to the lokayukt.
Naik in this small tenure one month had developed good relations with Chief Minister where his role is advisory. “Many a times I had given suggestions to Chief Minister formally or informally and he has acted on that. In Mohanlalganj rape case I had suggested Chief Minister that children of the deceased widow should get free education till they desire to study. Chief Minister agreed. Earlier state government had declared that it will bear the cost of education of these students up to high school only,” he said.
“In recent meeting with CM I suggested that Government should look into the problems of non-teaching staff of lucknow University. He agreed to do so. I also called a meeting of Registrar of the University and asked him to resolve the issue. I am happy the issue has been solved,” the Governor said.
There is no airs in behaviour of this octogenarian who has weathered many a political battle. He was thrice legislator and even won
Parliamentary elections against all odds. He fought cancer in 1993 and then became Union Petroleum Minister and before that he was Minister of State for railways. During conversation he answers Mulayam Singh Yadav’s call and even attends mobile asking someone on the other side to call him up after an hour.
“Politics has taught me to be accessible and polite. It takes a few seconds to answer a call but it reaffirms faith and develops bonding between two,” Naik said.
Question him about his one month tenure he spells out his priority. “I want to improve the academic standard of state universities by regularizing academic session. I am Chancellor of 24 state universities. I had summoned all the VCs and had one-to-one parleys with them. I asked them to regularize sessions and hold Convocation. I have also given them a schedule,” he said.
What’s about law and orderIJ The query does not ruffle him. “It (law and order situation) gives me pain. If you have a fracture you do not go to neurologist but to orthopaedics. Similarly, I am not the right man to comment on this. But I will work within my constitutional lakshman rekha and will continue to give suggestions to Chief Minister where ever I will deem it fit,” he said.