Punjab cabinet okays Lokayukta Bill; CM, ministers within ambit

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab cabinet on Monday approved the Punjab Lokayukta Bill, 2020, for passage in the ongoing session of the legislative assembly in its bid to improve governance and curb corruption.

The bill seeks to replace the existing Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996, and, once passed, will cover all public functionaries, including the chief minister. However, the prosecution of a sitting chief minister, ministers and members of the legislative assembly (MLAS) would require the approval of two-third members of the House, an official spokesperson said.

A senior officer of the Punjab government, who worked on the bill, told HT on condition of anonymity that the institution of Lokayukta has been empowered and could prosecute even the sitting chief minister unlike its earlier avatar that could only make recommendations.

Lokayuktas in some states, such as Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra, have the powers to prosecute sitting chief ministers, but under certain conditions. A Lokayuta has seldom recommended action against a sitting chief minister. As per the new law, the Lokayukta will enjoy all the powers of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

The bill is an extension of a central act passed by the Modi government in its first term, which mandated the states to bring a legislation on similar lines, giving more power to the Lokayukta. The official said that the bill bars a parallel probe into a complaint against any officer or public functionary, if an inquiry is being conducted into the matter by the Lokayukta.