Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta Bill, 2012, which had come in for a sharp attack from Team Anna, was introduced in the assembly on Wednesday, providing for an anti-corruption ombudsman and bringing in its purview the Chief Minister and other public servants.
As per the Bill introduced by Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Lokayukta would be a retired Supreme Court Judge or Chief justice of a High Court. A provision for appointment of two Uplokyukts has also been made.
The Lokayukt Bill also seeks to repeal the existing Lokayukt Act of 1983. The power to initiate inquiry against Chief Minister, ministers, chief parliamentary secretaries, MLAs and officers of the rank of Secretary and above and heads of the Department would vest in Lokayukta but no action would be initiated without the permission of full bench of Lokayukta, according to the Bill.
Further, the inquiry, investigations and prosecution shall continue in case the complainant dies and no complaint shall be allowed to be withdrawn unless the Lokayukta is fully satisfied that the complainant had made a bonafide mistake. However, the prosecution sanction in case of Ministers and MLAs would be accorded by the state assembly while in case of judicial officers, the High Court would be the competent authority to grant sanction.
A provision to keep the identity of whistle blowers secret and providing them security has also been made while in case of frivolous complaints a fine up to Rs 10 lakh and imprisonment of one year has also been made in the Bill. Introducing the Bill, Dhumal appealed to the members to go through the proposed law so that a healthy discussion could be held. “We (the cabinet) have incorporated suggestions received from various quarters, including the general public, and it is an important Bill as all public servants from the chief minister to a ward panch and members of urban local bodies have been covered under it”, Dhumal said.
Referring to the objections of opposition members that the required time has not been given to study the Bill and it should be referred to the Select Committee of the House, Dhumal said the government was ready to send the bill to any forum if such a necessity was felt after discussions. Congress member G.S Bali said the Bill was being brought in haste and sought clarification from the government on Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal’s recent criticism of the draft Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta Bill. (PTI)
