Govt delays Meghalaya Lokayukta formation
SHILLONG: The formation of a full- fledged Meghalaya Lokayukta is unlikely this year as the State government is yet to appoint its chairperson and four members.
Despite the rise in corruption cases coupled with the inability of the State Vigilance Commission to probe the many cases of graft involving government departments, the formation of Meghalaya Lokayukta is on a slow pace.
It was on March 27 that the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act was notified in the gazette by the State Government after the Meghalaya Governor KK Paul gave nod to the Act on March 26.
Three and half months after the official notification of the Act, the State Government was engaging in the framing of rules for the formation of Lokayukta.
The Lokayukta consists of a Chairman and four members and even after the rules are framed, the search and selection committees will decide the names for the Lokayukta before getting the nod from the Governor.
Though the term of the Chairman and four members is five years, they can remain in office till the age of 70 as per the Lokayukta Act.
The section 4 (iii) of Chapter 2 says that the “Chairperson or member shall not be a person less than forty-five years of age, on the date of assuming office”.
The section 6(1) says that “the Chairperson and every member shall, on the recommendation of the Selection Committee, be appointed by the Governor by warrant under his hand and seal; and hold office as such for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains the age of seventy years.
