Meeting
the three-month deadline set by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the State
Assembly on Friday passed the Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014
with provision
of keeping Chief Minister, ex-
Chief Ministers, other
ministers and public servants under the purview of a 6-member
anti-corruption panel. The Bill,
introduced in the Assembly on February 12, was unanimously passed after a
two-day discussion. The Bill has provisions similar to that of the Central Act
which was passed in Parliament in December, 2013. "With the passage of the Bill, Odisha
became the first state to enact the law after the central act was passed in
Parliament," said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kalpataru Das, who
piloted the Bill on behalf of Chief Minister. Patnaik had earlier announced that the state
government will ensure passage of the bill within 90 days of the Central Act.
With
passage of the bill, Odisha Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 1995 stood repealed. Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat had on Thursday
extended the ongoing session of the Assembly by one day for passing of this
bill. Of the total 60 clauses, only five
amendments were accepted by the government before it was passed. "I am not sure whether this Bill can
completely eradicate corruption from the state. But, it will certainly help to
curb the corrupt practice to a great extent," the minister said.
As
per the provisions of the Bill, the incumbent as well as former chief
ministers, ministers, MLAs, government officers, heads of panchayats and
municipalities and trusts receiving government grants will come under the
purview of the Lokayukta who is empowered to probe into graft charges. NGOs, contractors (firm or persons) and
suppliers dealing with government money would also be covered by it.
The
Chairman of the Lokayukta will be either a sitting or former High Court judge
and the commission would consist of at least two judicial members. From among their non-judicial members one
would be either from women, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe or minority
category on rotation basis.
The
Lokaykta should be at least 50 years of age. The Lokayukta will be chosen by a selection
committee headed by the chief minister and comprising others including the
Leader of the Opposition, speaker of Odisha assembly, Chief Justice of Orissa
High Court or a judge nominated by him and an eminent jurist nominated by the
Governor. The chairman of the Lokayukta
would be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the selection
committee.