LOKAYUKTA & UPLOKAYUKTA

1.   Eligibility:- chief justice of a high court or equivelant.
2. Appointment:- By the Governor on the recommendation of a committee.
3. commitee composition:-1.chief minister                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  2.chief justice of high court.                                                                                                                                                                                                                3.Leader of the opposition in the Raj. Legislative Assembly.
4. Tenure:-5/65year, Whichever is earlier. no provision for re appointment (By raj. Lokayukt and Uplokayukt amendment Act. 2019).[In 2018, the tenure was 8 years (but remained for only 5-6 months).During this time , Vasundhra Raje was the chief Minister.]
5. Resignation;-To the Governor
6. Dismissal:-By the governor
7. The Governor will Form a Committee to investigate allegation of misconduct and incomplete. The committee will be chaired by a Supreme court or the chief Justice of a high court. If the committee find the allegation to be true, the Governor will remove the Lokayukt after a resolution is passed with special  majority in legislative assembly.
8. Oath:- By the Governor or a person appointed by the Governor (Chief secretary Reads the Warranty of appointment during oath taking ceremony)
9. Annual Report to Governor 

OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS

1. Statutory status for Lokayukta Institution - Rajasthan Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta Act 1973.

2. Stability of Tenure - 5/65 years.

3. Ban on reappointment of Lokayukta.

4. Complex process of removal.

5. Appropriate Remuneration Salary - Equal to Chief Justice of High Court.

6. Transparent process of appointment - By Governor on recommendation of a committee.

7. If the posts of Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta are vacant in the state, then a Judge of the High Court will work as Lokayukta, whose appointment will be done by the Governor on the request of the Chief Justice of the High Court.

# Jurisdiction of Lokayukta

(1) Minister 

(2) Secretary, Head of Office 

(3) Other Public Service Commission 

(4) Zila Parishad - Zila Pramukh and Up-Pramukh 

(5) Panchayat Samiti - Pradhan and Up-Pradhan 

(6) Chairmen of Standing Committees of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti 

(7) Municipal Corporation - Mayor and Deputy Mayor 

(8) Municipal Council - Sabhapati and Up-Sabhapati

(9) Municipality - Chairman and Vice-Chairman 

(10) Chairmen of Standing Committees of Urban Bodies 

(11) Urban Improvement Trust (UIT) - Chairman 

(12) Directors of Government Companies 

(13) Chairman / Directors of Government Corporations and Boards 

(14) Any Society registered under Rajasthan Society Registration Act.

# Not included in Jurisdiction

(1) Governor 

(2) Chief Minister 

(3) Sarpanch and Up-Sarpanch and Ward Panch 

(4) Chairman of Standing Committees of Gram Panchayat 

(5) Chairman and Members of RPSC 

(6) MLA 

(7) Judges and Employees of High Court and Subordinate Courts 

(8) Employees of Assembly Secretariat 

(9) Accountant General, Rajasthan Government 

(10) Retired Public Servants

(11) Cases older than 5 years. 

(12) State Election Commissioner, Chief Election Officer, Regional Commissioner.

# Functions of Lokayukta

(1) To accept complaint or appeal against public servants in the following matters - 

(i) In matters of Corruption or Maladministration. 

(ii) Public servant lacking integrity. 

(iii) Causing harm to any person by a public servant.

(2) To hear matters of corruption through Suo-moto cognizance.

(3) Lokayukta has the following powers under Civil Procedure Code 1908 - 

(A) To issue notice to public servant. 

(B) To summon public servant for testimony or evidence. 

(C) To record the statement of public servant on affidavit. 

(D) To call for documents from any government office.

(4) To recommend disciplinary action against public servant.

(5) On false complaint, the appellant can face 3 years jail or fine or both.

(6) To submit Annual Report to the Governor.

(7) To maintain promptness and impartiality in investigations.

(8) To ensure accountability in departments and organizations coming under jurisdiction.

(9) In special circumstances, work related to confiscating property, income, receipts and benefits generated or obtained through corruption.

(10) To give directions to prevent destruction of records during preliminary inquiry.

(11) Power to recommend transfer or suspension of public servants linked to corruption charges.

# Shortcomings of Lokayukta Institution -

(1) It is only an advisory council or body whose recommendations are not binding on the State                                           Government.

(2) Various posts have been kept out of the jurisdiction of Lokayukta - CM, MLA, Sarpanch etc.

(3) Lokayukta does not have the right to investigate corruption cases older than 5 years.

(4) Vacant post of Up-Lokayukta.

(5) No discussion or debate on the Annual Report of Lokayukta in the Assembly.

(6) Excessive pending cases in Lokayukta.

(7) Obstacle in work due to mixing of complaints of Maladministration with complaints of Corruption by                the single institution of Lokayukta.

(8) Lack of own investigating agency.

(9) Its recommendations are not binding.

(10) Lack of a committee to monitor the implementation of Lokayukta's recommendations.

(11) Excessive workload.

(12) Lokayukta cannot award punishment itself. Can only recommend to the competent authority.

# Suggestions

(1) Lokayukta should be given Constitutional status whose recommendations should be binding for State Governments.

(2) Everyone should be included in the jurisdiction of Lokayukta. (CM, MLA, Sarpanch, Up-Sarpanch etc.)

(3) Lokayukta should have the right to hear all matters of corruption. Ex. Nodal Agency.

(4) Posts of Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta should be filled on time.

(5) Posts should be increased in Lokayukta Institution.

(6) There should be discussion on the Annual Report of Lokayukta.

(7) Lokayukta should have the right to give punishment.

(8) Qualifications of Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukta should be improved.

(9) Powers of search and arrest and initiating contempt proceedings should be given.

                           Up-Lokayukta 

• Appointment – By Governor after consultation with Lokayukta.

• Qualification – Equal to State Vigilance Commissioner.

• Oath – By Governor or person nominated by Governor.

• Salary – Equal to Judge of High Court.

• Removal – By Governor similar to Lokayukta.

  • Investigation committee is chaired by Judge of Supreme Court or High Court.

# Other names of Lokayukta –

(1) Britain and Finland -> Parliamentary Commissioner 

(2) Russia -> Prosecutor 

(3) Kerala -> Public Men 

(4) Tamil Nadu -> Commissioner of Inquiries 

(5) Jammu-Kashmir -> Anti-Corruption Agency

Lokayuktas of Rajasthan

Up-Lokayuktas of Rajasthan

Important Facts:-

• First Lokayukta of Rajasthan - I.D. Dua.

• First Up-Lokayukta - K.P.U. Menon (Former Chief Secretary).

• Minimum Tenure - Vinod Shankar Dave (26 days).

• Maximum Tenure - Mahendra Bhushan Sharma.

• Judges of other High Courts who remained on Lokayukta post of Rajasthan - M.L. Shrimal (Sikkim High Court), Milap Chand Jain (Delhi High Court).

• Only Judge of Supreme Court who remained Lokayukta - I.D. Dua.

• Former Chief Justice of High Court who remained Lokayukta - D.P. Gupta.

• Current Lokayukta - P.K. (Pratap Krishna) Lohra.

• Complaint cannot be made to Lokayukta in cases older than 5 years.

• Lokayukta is incapable of taking action itself because it is only an advisory body. Its advice is not binding.

• Lokayukta and Lokpal Act-2013 was implemented by Central Government on 16 January 2014.

• Current Lokpal Chairperson - Justice Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar.

• First Lokpal Chairperson - Shri P.C. Ghose.

• First Lokpal name - Suggested by L.M. Singhvi.

• Lokayuktas who remained Acting Governor of Rajasthan - D.P. Gupta, Milap Chand Jain.

• Acting Lokayuktas - D.P. Gupta, K.S. Sidhu, V.S. Dave.

• No provision for Reappointment.

• Complaint only against Public Servant.

• SUO-moto cognizance.

• Complaint on Non-Judicial Stamp of 10 Rupees.

• No investigation in cases older than five years.

• While investigating complaint by Lokayukta, if any person creates obstacle in work, then upon being proven guilty, punishment of up to 6 months or fine or both types of punishment can be given.

SECTIONS OF LOKAYUKT