Gujarat govt plans multi-member Lokayukta, to bring new bill

Gandhinagar: In the backdrop of setback in the Supreme Court over the appointment of Lokayukta, Gujarat Government has decided to set up a multi-member Lokayukta institution bringing state Chief Minister within its purview. “We have decided to introduce a new Lokayukta Aayog Bill 2013 in the state Assembly on March 26,” Finance Minister and state spokesperson Nitin Patel told PTI today. The new bill, on its enactment, would replace the existing Gujarat Lokayukta Act 1989. “As per the new provisions, for the first time, Chief Minister of the state has been brought within the purview of the Lokayukta at par with other ministers,” Patel said. [caption id=“attachment_672341” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Narendra Modi in this file photo. Gujarat Government has decided to set up a multi-member Lokayukta institution bringing state Chief Minister within its purview. PTI[/caption] He also said that, “In the draft bill, as per the recommendations of the central government and the 13th Finance Commission, proposed Lokayukta Aayog would be made into a multi-member institution with one Lokayukta and upto four Up-lokayuktas.” A judicial battle had started on the issue of Lokayukta after Governor Kamla Beniwal, going against the advice of the Chief Minister as a head of the council of ministers, had on 25 August, 2011 appointed Justice (retired) R A Mehta as new Lokayukta to the post that was lying vacant for eight years. “Procedure of selection and appointment of the Lokayukta and Up-lokayukta has been made explicit and unambiguous through a selection committee headed by the Chief Minister,” Patel said. A six-member selection panel will be headed by the Chief Minister while the Speaker of the Assembly, state Law Minister, Leader of the Opposition and two experts will be included as members. As per the draft of the bill, the Governor is to appoint Lokayukta on the recommendation of the selection committee. A notice was circulated today, with the copy of the draft bill, informing that Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill 2013 will be introduced in the House on March 26, 2013. The government’s move to set up a new Lokayukta institution, however, was criticised by the Opposition. PTI