Cong questions delay in Lokayukta appointment in Odisha

Opposition Congress Wednesday accused the Odisha government of delay in appointment of Lokayukta.

Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik also criticised the NDA government at the Centre for not appointing a Lokayukta.

"The time frame given by Supreme Court for appointment of Lokayukta in Odisha has expired. But Odisha government did not carry out the Apex Court order to root out corruption," Patnaik said in a statement.

"The matter is pending with Supreme Court and Odisha had filed an affidavit on April 12 in this regard. Based on the fact, Apex Court ordered the state government to complete the appointment process by July 10," he said.

Patnaik further said that on July 11, Odisha chief secretary filed the status report in the Supreme Court.

"As per that, the Supreme Court gave just two months time to appoint Lokayukta. But the state has also failed in making appointment. No steps have been taken in this regard," the OPCC president alleged.

He said, the Congress led UPA government had enacted Lokpal and Lokayukta legislation in 2013. The Act would bring the Chief Minister, ex-CMs, other ministers and public servants under the purview of a six-member anti-corruption body to be headed by either a sitting or former High Court judge.

Stating that the Odisha chief minister used to talk about transparency in the administration, OPCC president said: "One of the former senior ministers of the state government Damodar Rout has put forth so many corruption allegations. Even chief minister has been biased and controlled by a non-Odia officer."