Imphal | December 22: In a landmark step, the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011 was on Thursday passed in the State Legislative Assembly which will have the power to initiate enquiries and investigations against those individuals up to the level of a chief minister who are charged with corruption.
Chief Minister O Ibobi moved the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011 to pass it in the House, saying since our State is within a democratic country the Centre has asked the government to choose either Lok Ayukta Bill or Lokpal Bill and "we have chosen the former to check corruption in the State".
The chief minister also told the House that corruption being the most important issue now in the country; everybody wants to root it out from the top to the bottom from the society.
Opposition leader and MPP MLA O Joy gave the party’s nod to the bill but argued that the adequately qualified authority over the chief minister within the purview of the bill must be the Governor and not the Assembly House. He said the Governor takes oath while a chief minister takes its office.
However, MPP MLA R.K. Anand stressed that the competent authority over the chief minister and his council of ministers should only be Lok Ayukta itself.
State NCP chief Radhabinod Koijam also expressed his view regarding the competent authority which will have the absolute power to investigate against the chief minister on corruption charges saying the authority over the chief minister should not be the Assembly in any way, adding that it would be inappropriate.
Inspite exchange of various contentious views, the House unanimously passed the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011.
Chief Minister O Ibobi moved the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011 to pass it in the House, saying since our State is within a democratic country the Centre has asked the government to choose either Lok Ayukta Bill or Lokpal Bill and "we have chosen the former to check corruption in the State".
The chief minister also told the House that corruption being the most important issue now in the country; everybody wants to root it out from the top to the bottom from the society.
Opposition leader and MPP MLA O Joy gave the party’s nod to the bill but argued that the adequately qualified authority over the chief minister within the purview of the bill must be the Governor and not the Assembly House. He said the Governor takes oath while a chief minister takes its office.
However, MPP MLA R.K. Anand stressed that the competent authority over the chief minister and his council of ministers should only be Lok Ayukta itself.
State NCP chief Radhabinod Koijam also expressed his view regarding the competent authority which will have the absolute power to investigate against the chief minister on corruption charges saying the authority over the chief minister should not be the Assembly in any way, adding that it would be inappropriate.
Inspite exchange of various contentious views, the House unanimously passed the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011.
