Lokayukta system to be stronger in Himachal Pradesh, said CM-30 Dec, 2011

30 Dec, 2011, 01.35PM IST, IANS

Lokayukta system to be stronger in Himachal Pradesh, said CM


SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has promised a corruption-free state with a powerful Lokayukta system in place. He said he is in touch with Anna Hazare and his team for their suggestions to make the institution more potent.

His assertions come at a time when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is facing charges of selling the state to non-Himachalis by granting them permission to buy huge chunks of land after bypassing the laid down land laws.

"We are one of the first states to have a Lokayukta. Now we are going to give the Lokayukta institution more powers in order to deal effectively with corruption and abuse of power," Dhumal told in an interview.

"For this, the act (Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta Act of 1983) would be amended. Members of civil society have been invited to give suggestions to strengthen the Lokayukta and give it more powers for dealing effectively with complaints of corruption," he said.

The issue of giving more power to the institution, Dhumal said, would be discussed with the new Lokayukta, Justice (retd) L.S. Panta, who is to assume office next month.

Panta, a retired Supreme Court judge, is chairman of the National Green Tribunal.

The chief minister's office also comes under the purview of the Lokayukta.

Dhumal, who took over reins of the state for the second time Dec 30, 2007, said his government was among the few states that reacted quickly after the national outcry against corruption.

"We have now laws in place to nail corrupt officials and make them accountable through timely delivery of services to the public," he said.

The state assembly, during its eight-day monsoon session in August, passed the Himachal Pradesh Special Courts (Attachment and Confiscation of Property) Bill and the Himachal Pradesh Public Services Guarantee Bill.