The Orissa High Court has issued a notice to the state government seeking steps taken to reactivate the state Lokayukta, which is turned fully defunct after the retirement of the anti-corruption ombudsman chairpersons and three members.
Acting on a writ petition, a division bench on Thursday directed the government to file an affidavit on the steps taken to appoint the chairperson and Members of the Lokayukta within two weeks.
The Chairperson, a judicial member and two other members retired for more than a year after completing their term of five years.
With chairperson and members retiring, the hearing of cases pertaining to corruption in public offices has stopped as the Lokayukta in Odisha currently functions on pen and paper only.
To combat corruption by creating the institution of Lokayukta as an independent anti-corruption ombudsman, Odisha had become a pioneer State in enacting the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014. The Odisha Lokayukta Act,2014 came into force with effect from 7 July, 2018 and the body of the Lokayukta was established with effect from 28 February, 2019 by way of the Government of Odisha Gazette Notification.
The Lokayukta has jurisdiction to inquire into allegations of corruption against any person who is or has been a Chief Minister or any other person who is or has been a Minister of the State or who is or has been a Member of Odisha Legislative Assembly.
It also covers the Chairpersons, Members of a Panchayat or a Municipality or Employee of the State who is serving or has served in connection with the affairs of the State referred to in Sub clauses (i) &(ii) of clause (c) of Section 2 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.The Lokayukta has been empowered to conduct enquiry in respect of the allegations of corruption by the public servant of the State of Odisha serving in and outside the State and the public servants under the control of Government of Odisha as per Sub-section (3) of Section-1 of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014.
As per Section 3 of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, the Lokayukta shall consist of a Chairperson who is or has been a Chief Justice of a High Court or a Judge of a High Court or an eminent person and five Members, out of whom, two shall be Judicial Members.