New Lokayukta Act to be introduced

SHILLONG, MAR 4: The state cabinet decided to re-introduce a new bill to replace the existing Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2013 in the upcoming assembly session which will start from March 7.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters after the cabinet meeting on Tuesday, “We have decided to re-introduce this new Lokayukta bill which will replace the existing Meghalaya Lokayukta Act 2013. Minor fine tuning to suit to our given conditions have been made to the earlier bills.”

Sangma said that Act was in consistent with government’s commitment to embark on new approach to governance which will not only be effective but also accountable and create a system to facilitate an environment which will deter any tendency for corruption.

The bill is also almost in the original format of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act passed by the union government, Sangma informed. According to him, the proposed bill is comprehensive and will regulate overall approach and functioning of the Lokayukta.

“It will be called the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act 2014, as it is not an amendment but a replacement of the existing act,” Sangma said. He said the Act will be repealed in the ensuing assembly session of the state.

“We will introduce the bill to replace the existing Lokayukta Act 2013, and if the house consider, we will have a new Lokayukta in place,” Sangma stated. On the proposed changes, he said that these minor fine tuning refers to only the issue of the appointment of the members which will be one plus four that include the chairman and the members.

According to Sangma, the fine tuning was required because of the fact that as there are eight states which were under one high court for so long therefore this  challenges are instrumental in allowing deriving this decision.

Sangma reasoned that the one minor change was required as sometime it is difficult for the state to give the number of available retired judges of the high court.

“The bill has proposed that anybody who is already eligible to be appointed as high court judge can also be considered for appointment as member of the Lokayukta besides retired high court judges,” Sangma said.

With regard to the appointment of the chairman of the Lokayukta, Sangma informed either retired judge of the High Court or retired chief secretaries will be eligible.

“We have also proposed minor changes from the principle act that any organizations and societies registered under the state Act and who are receiving donation as per the Foreign Contribution Act will only be brought under the Act instead of saying that all ngos and organizations who received any donation amounting to Rs 10 lakh or more will also be brought under the purview of the Lokayukta Act,” Sangma said.

Sangma also stated the state government has already piloted the bill in 2012 which was further amended in 2013, even before the union parliament enacted the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2014.

Sangma said the act is also in compliance with the decision of the Congress party which had directed that all the Congress rule states should must enact the Lokayukta Act in conformity with the principle act which has been passed by the parliament.- By Our Reporter