Bihar cabinet approves notification of Lokayukta Bill

Nearly one and a half years after the assembly passed it, the Bihar cabinet Tuesday notified the legislation setting up a three-member Lokayukta with jurisdiction to probe corruption charges against public servants from the chief minister down to lowest rung of government employees.

The state cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Tuesday approved the notification, Cabinet Secretary Brajesh Mehrotra told media persons here.

He said the bill aimed at combating corruption in public life in the state.

Earlier, Nitish Kumar described the bill as strong and effective to check corruption in the state.

"The Bihar Lokayukta Bill is unique, strong and effective. The central government should incorporate its provisions in the Lokpal bill if the central legislation also intends to cover the Lokayuktas under the proposed central legislation," he said.

The cheif minister claimed that Bihar has emerged as a model state in the country after his government's bid for transparency was being emulated by other states and the country, and cited the example of mandatory annual declaration of assets by ministers and government employees.