Saturday, December 7, 2024
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Pressure mounts on Govt for new Lokayukta Bill

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: Pressure is mounting on the MUA-II coalition Government to frame a new Lokayukta Bill since constitutionally, the Lokayukta Act passed last year has lapsed.

Activists under the banner of Campaign for Independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya (CILM), on Sunday, said that as per the views of constitutional experts like Shanti Bhushan, Prashant Bhushan and Prashanto Sen, since the Governor had sent back the Bill to the Government with suggestions and criticism and then the Assembly got dissolved for the election, there is nothing called Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2012.

“Once the Assembly is dissolved, the Bill which has been sent back for reconsideration of the Assembly by the Governor would lapse. The Government cannot insist that the same Bill should be given assent to,” the activists said quoting the experts.

The activists demanded that Government should legislate a new act based on the Central Act introduced by the UPA Government and passed by the Lok Sabha.

During the Assembly Session last month, the members in the Assembly had raised the issue of drafting an effective Lokayukta, but the Chief Minister hinted that amendments will be brought to the existing Act.

The CILM said that it had already submitted a people’s draft to the legislators with a request to base the new legislation on the ‘People’s Draft’.

“The Government should pass a Lokayukta Bill which incorporates all the enabling provisions of the Central Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 and recommendations of the Standing Committee,” the activists said.

“The Draft of the important legislation should be discussed thread bare both inside and outside the House before giving the nod,” the CILM activists added.

CILM, along with other groups, organised a public meeting in Sohra on Saturday. The purpose was to build awareness about an independent Lokayukta in Meghalaya and create public pressure on the MUA Government led by Dr Mukul Sangma to legislate an effective Lokayukta Act.

Various speakers including FKJGP president Joe Marwein, local MLA Titosstarwell Chyne, Rev. K Pyrtuh, Rev. N Diengdoh and Angela Rangad of Thma U Rangli Juki, Lhai Singh Khongshei and Lamphrang Diengdoh, noted social activists from Sohra, Abner Pariat from Youth for Change and others spoke in the meeting.

They criticized the weak bill proposed by the Government and stressed on a participatory and open mode for legislation of a strong Lokayukta in Meghalaya.

They also criticized the Government for trying to mislead the people into thinking that Meghalaya already has a Lokayukta Act passed in December last.

The CILM activists said they will continue their exercise by holding a series of meetings at Lumparing, Lawsohtun and Laban here on Monday.

Defects of Lokayukta Act, 2012
Allowed for exemption of public servants
Made the Lokayukta into just a recommendatory body
No investigative and prosecuting wing
No provision of special courts
No financial autonomy
Stringent criterion for complaints
Provision for prosecuting the complainant
Only judges and bureaucrats can be members of the Lokayukta
Easy for the Government to remove the Lokayukta
Lack of transparency in investigation by the Lokayukta
No administrative autonomy to the Lokayukta

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