Odisha to bring Lokayukt Bill within a month

The CM Naveen Patnaik and the council of ministers will also be under the purview of this proposed act

The Odisha cabinet today decided to bring a bill for constitution of Lokayukt in the state within a month, bringing the chief minister and other ministers under the purview of the anti-grafts commission.

“Today the cabinet has decided in principle to legislate this act within a period of one month. The chief minister and the council of ministers will also be under the purview of the proposed Act,” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said after a cabinet meeting, here, today.

Though the central Act provides a window period of one year for the enactment of the relevant legislation, Patnaik said, the Odisha government would get it done within 30 days, while briefing the media persons on the Cabinet decision.

Claiming that his government always took tough, effective and exemplary steps in tackling corruption, Patnaik said, improving transparency and delivery of public services were the priority of his government. “In view of our government’s commitment to fight corruption and bring in transparency in public life, the state government will get the legislation enacted,” Patnaik said.

The chief minister lauded the steps taken by the state government to contain corruption and illegal practices to cheat the state exchequer and common people.

“Be it the passing of the Special Courts Act which has provisions for confiscation of the property of corrupt public servants or the Public Service Delivery Act, which facilitates providing services in a time bound manner, our Government has always been a pioneer in the country. I had earlier stated that the state government will bring the Lokayukt Act within three months from the time it is passed by the Central government,” he observed.

Sources said, the selection panel for appointment of Lokayukt may constitute of the Chief Minister, the Leader of Opposition, the Chief Justice of Odisha High Court with the fourth member being either the State Election Commissioner or the chairman of the State Public Service Commission or the Accountant General (AG).