The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Consensus must for common Lokayukta Act’

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Monday, Sep 24, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Consensus must for common Lokayukta Act’

Staff Reporter

It’s not easy to grant constitutional status to Lokayukta, says Union Home Minister

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Sharing a thought: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil (second from left) having a word with Chairman of the Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar at the valedictory function of the conference of All-India Lokayukta, Lokpal and Upa Lokayukta Association in Bangalore on Sunday. With them are the former Minister H.K. Patil (left) and Lokayukta Santosh Hegde.

BANGALORE: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has said that a common Lokayukta Act is possible only if there is consensus among the States.

Speaking at the valedictory function of the two-day conference of All-India Lokayukta, Lokpal and Upa Lokayukta Association here on Sunday, the Home Minister said although the creation of the institution of Lokayukta was in the concurrent list, it would be difficult to frame a Central Lokayukta Act. “Unless consensus is developed among the States the Act will not be effective,” he said.

Mr. Patil was reacting to some of the resolutions passed at the conference.

Presenting the resolutions, association president S.H.A. Raza, who is the Lokayukta of Uttarakhand, lamented the inaction of the Government in introducing a Central legislation for creation of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta for the State. A Central legislation would remove anomalies in the State laws. This included removing the difference in the powers of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta.

It would also help in the creation of the Lokayukta institutions in the States that have not yet enacted the Lokayukta Act.

He said the Government was yet to amend the Constitution and grant Lokayukta a constitutional status, which would have helped in minimising corruption, maladministration and nepotism.

The former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had made this recommendation in the First Administrative Reforms Commission report, Mr. Raza said.

The Home Minister said it was not easy to grant constitutional status.

Similar demands

“If we give it there will be similar demand from institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, Election Commission, Planning Commission …” While granting the status, the Government had to look into the possible overlapping of functions between Lokayukta institutions and courts, which presently had constitutional status.

Mr. Patil said a parliamentary committee was looking into both the issues.

Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Council H.K. Patil said the Lokayukta Act should be made applicable to all the elected representatives, including the Prime Minister.

Chairman of the Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar spoke.

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