<div>In a swift move, the state government has assigned 400 departmental enquiries against various public servants to the Lokayukta institution. Section 12(3) of Lokayukta Act authorises the institution to recommend departmental enquiries against erring officials. From January 2016, the institution had sent 921 reports to the government seeking enquiries.<br /><br />The government’s inaction on the reports has been a major issue in the last two years. After former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao resigned, the government had further ignored reports seeking departmental enquiries. The government is bound to respond to the report within three months of receiving it. The Lokayukta institution can also write to the Governor on non-compliance with the report. “Once a report is sent to the Governor, more reminders cannot be sent to the government and the institution will have to wait for the file to be placed before the Assembly. However, this time, communication to the office of the Governor was followed up and the government seems to have decided to dispose of reports recommending action against its officials,” a Lokayukta official said. <br /><br />As the office of the Lokayukta is vacant, there are only reports against public servants whose salary is less than Rs 40,000. The two Upa Lokayuktas – Justice N Ananda and Justice Subhash B Adi - have sent 654 reports under Section 12(3) of the Lokayukta Act against officials between June and September 27, 2016. “The government has sent 400 cases for departmental enquiries since January 2016. Of these, more than 300 cases were received between June and September. There are also hundreds of reports sent under 12(1), on redressal of grievance,’’ a Lokayukta official said. Of late, it is seen that out of the total complaints, more than 25% reach the logical end. The disposal rate has been speeded up since January, he said. The Lokayukta's judiciary wing holds enquiries against officials charged with dereliction of duty or if demand for bribe for official work is proved prima facie.<br /><br /></div>
<div>In a swift move, the state government has assigned 400 departmental enquiries against various public servants to the Lokayukta institution. Section 12(3) of Lokayukta Act authorises the institution to recommend departmental enquiries against erring officials. From January 2016, the institution had sent 921 reports to the government seeking enquiries.<br /><br />The government’s inaction on the reports has been a major issue in the last two years. After former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao resigned, the government had further ignored reports seeking departmental enquiries. The government is bound to respond to the report within three months of receiving it. The Lokayukta institution can also write to the Governor on non-compliance with the report. “Once a report is sent to the Governor, more reminders cannot be sent to the government and the institution will have to wait for the file to be placed before the Assembly. However, this time, communication to the office of the Governor was followed up and the government seems to have decided to dispose of reports recommending action against its officials,” a Lokayukta official said. <br /><br />As the office of the Lokayukta is vacant, there are only reports against public servants whose salary is less than Rs 40,000. The two Upa Lokayuktas – Justice N Ananda and Justice Subhash B Adi - have sent 654 reports under Section 12(3) of the Lokayukta Act against officials between June and September 27, 2016. “The government has sent 400 cases for departmental enquiries since January 2016. Of these, more than 300 cases were received between June and September. There are also hundreds of reports sent under 12(1), on redressal of grievance,’’ a Lokayukta official said. Of late, it is seen that out of the total complaints, more than 25% reach the logical end. The disposal rate has been speeded up since January, he said. The Lokayukta's judiciary wing holds enquiries against officials charged with dereliction of duty or if demand for bribe for official work is proved prima facie.<br /><br /></div>
