Need for Lokpal and Lokayuktas

28/11/2019

The need for Lokpal at the centre and Lokayukta in states is justified in this democratic framework. After all, public also wants that their problems should be looked after and it cannot be possible without these two separate agencies to function. It will also instil confidence among the in the administrative bodies and also, it will drive out the corrupt officials from their chambers which they might have obtained through numerous illegitimate ways. It is necessary to drive out those political dignitaries who are working for the general good just for name sake. This system will prove to be an effective weapon to drive out the corrupt bureaucrats and political personnel. This system is designed to keep a track and check on the political personnel to prevent from any sort of corruption to take place and in case they are found to be corrupt they will be driven out. The term Lokayukta is synonymous of “Ombudsman” which is a Swedish term. Its objective is to provide for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal at the centre and Lokayukta to inquire into the activities of corruption against certain public functionaries. By the Act of 2013 it was left upon the discretion of the state that if it want to make its own Lokayukta act for the appointment of Lokayukta. Maharastra was the first state that brought Lokayukta Act in real existence. Corruption is the root cause of poor governance in India.
Keeping in view the Supreme Court’s explicit directions, the administration of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on the directions of Lieutenant Governor has set into motion an exercise to examine the applicability of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act. No serious attention was paid towards this provision of the law passed by the Parliament on the ground that in Jammu and Kashmir there was Accountability Commission to exercise jurisdiction over public men and Vigilance Commission to look into the complaints of corruption against Government servants. A committee headed by Secretary to the Government, Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Director Anti-Corruption Bureau and an Additional Secretary in the General Administration Department has been constituted to look into the working of the Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Commission, Anti-Corruption Bureau and the applicability of Lokayukta Act. JOURNEY LINE has been highlighting this issue from long and now the administration has started the exercise. Practically, there is no anti-corruption ombudsman in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir at present to look into the complaints of corruption against public men and public servants and if established the Lokayukta will have jurisdiction over both public men and public servants and State Vigilance Commission will cease to exist and the Lokayukta will be assisted by Anti-Corruption Bureau.

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