Bihar House nod to stronger Lokayukta
TNN | Dec 7, 2011, 10.20PM IST
PATNA: In its bid to give more teeth to Lokayukta in Bihar, the state government on Wednesday tabled the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011, in the legislative assembly which passed the bill by voice vote.
"The posts of chief minister, speaker of legislative assembly, chairman of legislative council and government employees, among others, have been brought under the ambit of the Lokayukta," CM Nitish Kumar said on the occasion.
He said that by bringing in this bill, the government has lived up to its commitment of zero tolerance to corruption. Replying to attack by the opposition benches, the CM said he did not need any certificate from any one regarding his honesty. "My track record is clean," he said.
Under the provisions of the new bill, the whistle-blower would be given all protection. Besides, the office of Lokayukta will have its vigilance and prosecution wings to take the corruption cases to their logical conclusion.
The committee for selection of Lokayukta would comprise speaker and chairman of the two legislative houses, two high court judges nominated by chief justice and the outgoing Lokayukta. Even if two members disagree on the recommendation for anyone's name, he would not be considered for the post of Lokayukta.
However, leader of opposition in the assembly, Abdul Bari Siddiqui expressed apprehensions that the new Lokayukta would not be able to handle corruption cases effectively. The Lokayukta should be an autonomous body with no government interference. But the very composition of the selection committee suggested that the government would have full control over his appointment. He suggested appointment of the chief justice of a high court and a retired judge of Supreme Court in the selection committee. Besides, the bill didn't speak about quorum, he said. He also wondered how the speaker and chairman of the two legislative houses, who can be charged with corruption by the Lokayukta, could be in the selection committee.
He also suggested that all corruption cases highlighted by media be brought under the purview of Lokayukta. The bill has been brought in haste as more than the opposition members, the treasury bench brought amendments to the bill, he said.
Durga Prasad Sah (RJD) demanded that anyone who held the post of chairman of any board or commission should not be considered for the position of Lokayukta. Amendments suggested by Ram Laxman Ram Lakhan and Samrat Chowdhary were rejected by the house.
The assembly also passed the Bihar Special Survey and Settlement Bill, 2011, and Bihar Land Mutation Bill, 2011. Two other bills, Bihar State University (Amendment) Bill, 2011, and Patna University (Amendment) Bill, 2011 were tabled in the House for the second time and passed.
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