Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin, whose five-year term ended today, favours financial and administrative autonomy saying it was important for the effective functioning of the anti-graft watchdog.
"It is important to get the administrative and financial autonomy of the Lokayukta and the President has also supported it during the Lokayukta's Conference last year," Sarin told reporters.
This is important as for small things, Lokayukta should not be looking for favours for himself or for his staff from those people - like ministers, officials, MLAs - against whom he would be conducting inquiry, he added.
"It is impossible for him to ask favours from those people," Sarin said, adding we have suggested a model to the Lieutenant Governor which says it should be within the rules of financial regulations.
Sarin asked the LG to make a provision for budget for the Lokayukta so that he knows how much amount he can spend and how within the financial rule "and if required they can depute financial controller to have a check on spending.
The outgoing Lokayukta said it was difficult to get the financial freedom from the government but hoped "it will happen one day."
He also said the government and the administration should take Lokayukta as their allies and not think that he was against them as both of them work for public good.
Sarin expressed satisfaction over his tenure. "I feel satisfied that I did my best, I tried to bring the best to my job and accomplish whatever I could with as many constraints as possible.
