‘Decide PIL for setting up Lokayukta in all states’

IT ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO COMMUNICATE ITS DECISION TO THE PETITIONER, ADVOCATE ASHWINI UPADHYAY, WHO WAS GIVEN LIBERTY TO APPROACH THE COURT IF HE WAS AGGRIEVED BY THE OUTCOME.

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Centre to take a decision within three months on a PIL seeking setting up of an “effective, impartial, independent and strong” Lokayukta in all the states of the country.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal asked the Union ministry of law and justice to treat the petition as a representation and to take a decision within three months.

It also asked the government to communicate its decision to the petitioner, advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, who was given liberty to approach the court if he was aggrieved by the outcome.

With these directions the court disposed of the matter.

The court’s order came after standing counsel for the Union government Jasmeet Singh said that Upadhyay’s representation has been received by the ministry and the issue raised by him was under consideration.

The government counsel sought time for arriving at a decision.Apart from seeking setting up of Lokayuktas in all the states, for ensuring redressal of citizens’ grievances in a time bound manner, Upadhyay has also sought implementation of the ‘United Nations Convention Against Corruption’ and the ‘Sense of the House Resolution-2011’.

In his plea, Upadhyay, who is also a BJP spokesperson, has sought enactment of a Lokayukta Bill as a model legislation so that there is a strong Lokayukta in all the states of the country.

He has contented that Parliament, on August 27, 2011, had unanimously adopted the Sense of the House Resolution as per which it was agreed to put in place a Citizen Charter, to bring the lower bureaucracy under Lokpal through an appropriate mechanism, and to establish Lokayukta in the states.

“An effective impartial independent and strong Lokayukta in states is necessary to curb corruption and redressal of citizen’s grievances related to corruption in a time-bound manner,” he said in his petition.

He also said in his plea that a representation was sent by him to the government but no decision has been taken till date on that.