'Arm Haryana Lokayukta with more powers'
TNN Sep 3, 2011, 06.54am IST
SONIPAT: Terming Haryana Lokayukta Act as toothless, the state`s Lokayukta said it must be amended to provide more powers to take cognizance of corrupt practices and to punish the guilty.
Addressing a press conference in Sonipat on Friday, State Lokayukta Justice (retd) Pritam Pal maintained that he had advocated setting up a watchdog body, comprising members of civil society at the district level, to check corruption in government offices.
``The vigilance committees could perform the role of a watchdog on the lines of those in Madhya Pradesh. I have submitted this proposal to the Haryana government for consideration,`` said Justice Pritam Pal.
``At present, Haryana Lokayukta Act, 2002, is somewhat powerless and there is a need to amend it so that the Lokayukta has the power to punish guilty officials. He should also be empowered to take suo motu cognizance of reported corrupt practices."
He maintained that the present Act did not empower the Lokayukta to take direct action against officials found guilty and can he can only recommend action to the state government. In order to speed up the working of Lokayukta's office, some new appointments are being made by the government.
The Lokayukta informed that his office has received 544 complaints so far this year, of which 133 are pending, but likely to be disposed of within six months. ``Only one complaint out of 411 was found false and action is being taken against the complainant," he added.
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