In a July 18 letter to the CM, Hazare had called for a stronger Lokayukta in the state, putting the government in a bind as its own MLAs are opposed to it
In a July 18 letter to the CM, Hazare had called for a stronger Lokayukta in the state, putting the government in a bind as its own MLAs are opposed to it
ADVERTISEMENT
Anna Hazare's demand for a stronger Lokayukta in Maharashtra, which he conveyed to the chief minister in a letter dated July 18, has the Democratic Front government in a bind.
Highly-placed sources in the government have told MiD DAY that an attempt to give the Lokayukta more teeth on the lines of the Karnataka model had already been made before the letter was received.
It was, however, opposed tooth-and-nail by MLAs from the Congress and NCP itself as it sought to bring them under the Lokayukta's ambit.
"Should the Anna movement train its guns on the state the way it has on the Centre currently, the government will find itself in a fix.
u00a0
It won't be able to give-in despite a popular uprising because its own MLAs are opposed to the bill.
This is something that the higher-ups are a little wary of at the moment," said a senior Mantralaya official, on condition of anonymity.
'It's the responsibility of the state government to pass the Lokayukta act (on the lines of the Jan Lokpal Bill).
u00a0
Any failure on this front will lead to people resorting to agitation,' Hazare has said in his letter, which also expresses the hope that the government will take positive steps before letting people resort to taking the path of agitation.
'People elect their leaders hoping they will use public money prudently and approve laws to ensure the bright future of the state.
u00a0
When all hopes go haywire, people are left with no choice but to resort to agitations, which is their constitutional right,' the letter states.
Reservations
Sources said the state was planning to make the Lokayukta strong to ward off the need to set up a State Vigilance Commission (SVC) as suggested by the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) headed by Veerappa Moily.
u00a0
The SVC would have taken over control of the Anti-Corruption Bureau from the Home Department, which did not go down well with the government.
The MLAs, however, had reservations with being brought within the ambit of the state's Lokayukta, which currently only covers ministers and senior bureaucrats.
The General Administration Department's proposal for a stronger Lokayukta had suggested bringing the CM, MLAs and senior-level bureaucrats under its ambit.
The Lokayukta in Karnataka can probe decisions taken by the MLAs and the Chief Minister, while his counterparts from Kerala and Haryana can probe administrative lapses and corruption by bureaucrats powers that are not vested in the Lokayukta in Maharashtra.
While a retired HC judge is appointed as the Lokayukta in Maharashtra, other states have a retired SC judge or retired HC chief justice as the Lokayukta.
u00a0
Also, a retired bureaucrat can occupy the post of Upalokayukta in Maharashtra, but in other states only a former HC judge can be appointed to the post.
While in other states, the Lokayukta can call for records and files from the government and other public bodies, these powers are missing here in the state.
The state Lokayukta Act is also silent on initiating prosecution of a public servant and gives the Lokayukta no powers to issue a search warrant, which is not the case in other states.
Anna effect
Anna Hazare and his fasts have already led to the state government passing many acts, inclusing the historic RTI Act, which Maharashtra was the first in the country to introduce.
The Maharashtra Regulation of Government Officers' Transfers and Prevention of Delays in Discharge of Official Duties Act to prevent delay in government offices and curbing transfers of officials was also a fallout of Anna's agitation.
Also read
* After Hazare's detention, Manmohan Singh calls cabinet meet
* Chennai begins fast to support Hazare
* Hazare, associates detained, protests across Delhi
* Orissa: Supporters protest Anna's detention
* Activists fast in Himachal to support Anna
* Rajya Sabha adjourned over Anna arrest
* Thousands gather at Chhatrasal Stadium anticipating Anna's release
* 'Gandhiji's method of fasting was different'
* What sort of revolution?
* Anna's men will ask you to bunk work today
* Detention is beginning of India's second freedom struggle: Hazare
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
