CM, ministers to be in lokayukta ambit as cabinet okays new Bill
Prosecution will require nod from two-third members of House; was on Cong manifesto
CHANDIGARH: The state cabinet on Monday approved the Punjab Lokayukta Bill-2020 for passage in the ongoing session of the legislative assembly. The Bill seeks to replace the existing Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996 and will cover all public functionaries, including the chief minister. However, the prosecution of the chief minister, ministers and MLAS would require the approval of the 2/3rd members of the House, a spokesperson said.
The reform measure aimed at improving governance and checking corruption envisages an autonomous body to inquire into the grievances and allegations against public functionaries in the state, and to make provisions for appointing the lokayukta, which will have all powers of a civil court and provide for prosecution in case of a false complaint. A senior officer of Punjab government who worked on the proposed legislation told HT on anonymity that against the institution of lokayukta a toothless entity having only has recommending powers, with enactment of new law can prosecute state functionaries as senior as the CM.
“The reform measure envisages an autonomous body to inquire into the grievances and allegations against public functionaries in the state, and to make provisions for appointment of lokpal and for the matters connected therewith. The
lokpal shall have all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure 1908,” said a government spokesman.
The proposed act, said to be an extension of a central act passed by the Modi government in its first term, also mandated
the states to bring a legislation on similar lines, giving more power to the institution of lokayukta.
Also, during campaigning before the 2017 state polls, the Congress party in its manifesto promised to bring a new Act giving it more powers – one that spares none, including the CM. Further, all sanctions by the assembly, whether or not permission to prosecute is granted, will be binding on the Lokayukta. All complaints will be scrutinised by a screening committee after taking the government’s opinion in the matter. The legislation bars a parallel probe into a complaint against any officer/public functionary if an inquiry is being conducted into the matter by the lokayukta.