By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: State will have to wait for long to get an effective Lokayukta as the Bill in this regard is yet to get the assent of Meghalaya Governor.
After the State Assembly passed the Meghalaya Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2013, on April 18 after incorporating certain suggestions from the then Governor RS Mooshahary, the Government kept the Bill for sometime and recently it was sent to the Governor for his assent.
An official source said that the Bill is still pending with the Governor for his approval.
The Government was compelled to come out with the Meghalaya Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2013 after the similar Meghalaya Lokayukta Bill, 2012 had found no takers. The former Governor did not give assent to the 2012 Bill which forced the Government to frame the amended Bill of 2013.
However, the new Meghalaya Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2013 has several loopholes. These loopholes were pointed out by the legislators during the April session of the Assembly. NGOs had also protested against the defective Bill.
The Chief Minister had assured the House that the Government would bring more amendments. He also said that passing the new Bill in the House was a necessity.
The irony is that even after the Governor gives assent to the Bill, this will be defective as the Government had assured that the Bill will be brought again to the House to make further amendments to make Lokayukta more effective. In case the Governor does not give approval to the Bill, the Government will have to abide by the recommendations of the Governor and subsequently, the Bill needs to be brought back to the Assembly for further debate.