By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Demanding an effective Anti Corruption Mechanism in the State for the past five years, Meghalaya Right to Information Movement (MRTIM) has opposed the Government’s attempt to appoint Lokayukta in Meghalaya based on a toothless and anti-people Meghalaya Lokayukta and Uplokayukta Act of 2002.
Criticizing the Government for its failure to formulate the rules of the Act which was passed in 2002, MRTIM member Michael Syiem said that the Government drafted rules five years later in 2007 which is an indication that the Government is not serious in putting in place a strong and effective anti-corruption mechanism.
“We are really surprise to see the Government is rushing to operationalise this Act. This law which was kept in cold storage for more than ten years has suddenly been rediscovered since the Government knows that the Lokayukta under this Meghalaya act would be a powerless body” Syiem said in a statement on Sunday.
Under the present law, he said that the Lokayukta would be a body with merely investigating and recommendatory powers.
“It has no power to initiate suo-moto investigation, prosecution and order punishment against corrupt public servants. The Lokayukta would also not have financial, judicial and administrative independence,” he said.
Syiem said that the Chief Minister will be exempt from the purview of Lokayukta even as no grievances against Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs and high level bureaucracy can be entertained by this body.
As this law predates the Right to Information Act 2005, there are comic contradictions in the law, MRTIM member said while adding that citizens can access Cabinet Deliberations under the RTI, the Lokayukta cannot. Moreover, bureaucracy will decide which documents can be made accessible to the Lokayukta for its investigation. While stating that this law ought to be repealed or at least amended, he said that the government should stop appointment of powerless Lokayukta.
It may be mentioned that MRTIM had already submitted memorandum to the government outlining the bare minimums which any effective anti Corruption law should have. Syiem said that the MRTIM is also working on a draft law which it shall be presenting to the govt.