Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 25
The Supreme Court on Wednesday cornered a number of States into giving undertakings to appoint Lokayuktas and members to the anti-corruption watchdog body within a specific time frame.
According to a Times of India report, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi left the States with no option and made them furnish undertakings to make Lokayukta bodies functional.
Nagaland, which figured among the states yet to appoint Lokayukta, told the Supreme Court that it is in the process of amending the provisions of Lokayukta rules.
Advocate General KN Balgopal, appearing for Nagaland also told the court that it would take time to complete the process of selection and appointment of Lokayukta, the Times of India report stated. After going through the nature of the amendment, the SC said it would like to interact with the Chief Secretary on October 29 on this issue.
West Bengal told the court that it would make Lokayukta functional by January 1, Tamil Nadu was allowed time till February 1 to follow suit.
Mizoram said it would appoint Lokayukta and members of the anti-corruption body to make it functional by December 15. Manipur said it would complete all formalities to make the body functional in three months. Telengana, which is going to polls, will have to make Lokayukta functional within three months of the new dispensation taking charge.
It may be recalled that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) had passed the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill 2015 with amendments only on December 15, 2017. The Bill was tabled by former Chief Minister TR Zeliang in the 12th Nagaland Assembly on July 21, 2015. The House passed the Bill with amendments on December 15, 2017. Nagaland Governor had duly given assent on December 21, 2017.
The Lokayukta is an ombudsman body to check corruption allegations against administrators and legislators. The Lokayukta Act comes under Section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013 (Act No.1) of 2014, which makes provision for establishment of Lokayukta for the States to probe allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries. Various sections of the society in Nagaland have been demanding for its implementation in the state.
