New Delhi: There is no provision in the Lokpal Act for providing any assistance to state governments for establishing Lokayuktas, the Lok Sabha was informed today. Replying to a question, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the central government is not required to maintain data in respect of Lokayuktas established by the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. “Also, there is no provision in the Act for providing any assistance to the state governments for establishing Lokayuktas,” he said in a written reply.
The central government, however, requested the chief ministers of all states to ensure timely action for implementation of their obligation under the Act to establish Lokayuktas. In this regard, a copy of Act, along with other provisions relating to state Lokayuktas was forwarded for consideration of the same as a model bill, the Minister said. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill provides for establishment of an anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into graft charges against public functionaries.
The provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 have come into force with effect from January 16, 2014. However, the Act, requires some amendment so as to provide for situations where the composition of the Selection Committee is incomplete due to absence of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, recognised as such, etc. “Accordingly the Lokpal and other related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 18, 2014. The said Bill stands referred to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice,” Singh said.
