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M.P. Speaker issues breach of privilege notice to Lokayukta

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Assembly Speaker has sent a breach of privilege notice to the Lokayukta, Justice Ripusudan Dayal, and four others after registration of a corruption-related case against two Vidhan Sabha officers.

According to available information, a breach of privilege notice on behalf of the Assembly Speaker, Ishwardas Rohani, signed by Assembly Secretary Quazi Aklimuddin has been served on the Lokayukta as well the Legal Adviser to the Lokayukta, Vidhawari Joshi, Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Special Police Establishment) G.P. Singh, Superintendent of Police (SPE), K. K. Lohani, and Inspector (SPE) Satish Verma.

The Lokayukta earlier had conducted a preliminary inquiry and the SPE had registered a case linked with alleged irregularities in some construction work against the Vidhan Sabha Secretary, Bhagwan Dev Israni, and Additional Secretary A. P. Singh.

The Assembly Speaker’s action comes after four MLAs had raised the breach of privilege issue.The Lokayukta could not be contacted for comments as he had proceeded on leave. When contacted, police officers from the Lokayukta Special Police Establishment said that since the matter was within the jurisdiction of the Assembly, they would not say anything.

The Lokayukta, Justice Ripusudan Dayal, had earlier served as Judge of the Sikkim, Allahabad and Calcutta High Courts.

On his retirement in May 2003, he was appointed the Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta.

Besides the breach of privilege issue, the Lokayukta is embroiled in yet another controversy on the issue of jurisdiction with the State Chief Information Commissioner, P. P. Tiwari.

The Lokayukta earlier went to the High Court challenging the CIC’s order bringing the Lokayukta along with the State Economic Offences Wing and Criminal Investigation Dept. of the police under its purview.

Recently an order had been issued by the CIC saying that only intelligence and security agencies could be exempted from the purview of Section 24.4 of the Right to Information Act.

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M.P. Speaker issues breach of privilege notice to Lokayukta

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