AAP urges Guv not to sign faulty Lokayukta Bill

BHUBANESWAR: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Odisha unit on Monday urged Governor SC Jamir not to sign the Odisha Lokayukta Bill without due care and examination since it has made major deviations from the Lokpal Act 2011 amended in 2013.

The party delegation submitted a memorandum to the Governor and appealed before him about technical and other deficiencies in the Bill passed recently by the Odisha Legislative Assembly in undue haste.

The party members in their memorandum stated the faults in the Bill like absence of protection for whistle blowers, removal process of the Lokayukta and action against defeated complainant.   

The Lokpal Act, Section 37, provides for removal process of Lokpal to be initiated on a petition signed by 100 MPs, while Section 37 of the Odisha Lokayukta Bill 2014 provides for signature of only 25 MLAs to start the process. As a consequence, the Lokayukta can be removed by signature of only 25 MLAs and it will help the ruling party to suppress the voice of the Lokayukta.

The Bill is bereft of any protection for the whistle blowers whose life would be in grave danger. Besides, the Bill makes mockery of the proposed Lokayukta and also poses grave threat to the complainant raising his voice against corruption by public servants, said the AAP members.