JOIN USLokayukta to a be nine-member organisation
According to the anti-corruption legislation introduced in the Parliament on Thursday, the Lokayukta will comprise a chairperson and eight members, out of whom fifty per cent shall be judicial members.
Former chief justice of the High Court or a sitting judge of the High Court will be eligible to be appointed as chairperson of the nine-member Lokayukta.
Lokayukta in a state will have the power to make preliminary inquiry, investigation and prosecution into any allegation of corruption by government functionaries.
The jurisdiction of Lokayukta will cover a person who is or has been chief minister of a state; a person, who is or has been a minister in the state government; MLAs and all the officers and employees of the state government.
For the purpose of conducting preliminary inquiry, the Lokayukta will be entitled to constitute an Inquiry Wing headed by Director of Inquiry.
Similarly, the Lokayukta shall, by notification, constitute a Prosecution Wing headed by
Director of Prosecution for the purpose of prosecution of public servants.
The Bill introduced by the Congress–led UPA government entitles the Lokayuktas to utilise the services of any officer or organisation or investigation agency of the state government to conduct any preliminary inquiry and investigation.
As for the appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokayukta, the governor will appoint them after obtaining the recommendation of a selection committee, headed by the chief minister and comprising of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Justice of the High Court of the state or a judge of the High Court nominated by him and an eminent jurist nominated by the Governor.
For the selection of chairperson and members of Lokayutas the selection committee will constitue a search committee of seven persons, provided that fifty per cent of them belong to scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, other backward classes and women.