In response to a query by city-based RTI activist Jitendra Ghadge, the office of the Lokayukta said it received 5,860, 5,200 and 3,028 complaints in the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 (up to July ) respectively, but it closed 914, 831 and 118 complaints in the corresponding years without any action as these did not hold any merit.
However, 319 reports in 2014 and 22 in 2016 were submitted by the Lokayukta to competent authorities recommending action, but action the taken report sent by the respective departments to these stood at 192 in 2014, 44 in 2015 (the carry forward from 2014) and only 1 in 2016, the reply said.
Ghadge has alleged that the corruption watchdog has been reduced to a "recommendatory body" and virtually rendered "toothless" because of lack of powers.
"But since it has not been vested with any powers except for sending reports, it has virtually turned into an ineffective institution and has become toothless," Ghadge said.
The performance of the Lokayukta clearly shows that they have been stripped off their powers and only indulge in written correspondence with the government, the RTI activist alleged.
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