Compelled by the developments in the apex court, Odisha government on Monday issued a notification setting the process of appointment of Lokayukta in the state.

The state government has to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court in this regard on Tuesday and hence the notification which was not done for over three years since the passing of the Lokayukta Act by the Odisha Assembly in 2014 and its Presidential assent accorded in 2015.

For all these years the Naveen Patnaik government had deliberately not issued a notification thereby not bringing the Act in to force, charged former law minister Narasingha Mishra while hammering home the point that the government stands exposed.

In fact Mishra pointed out that over the last four years he had repeatedly raised the issue in every forum including the Assembly. Even during the last session the matter was raised as the apex court had, on the basis of affidavit filed by the state government, said the Act is in force in the state.

Mishra pointed out that it is not so since the notification had not been issued. He dared the government to either refute the apex court’s order or admit that its affidavit was wrong or produce a copy of the notification.

The government was left red faced. It finally came out with a reply that it had not stated in the court that the act was in force and hence it will seek correction to the order. But till date it has not move for any correction and on Tuesday it is to furnish a affidavit, let us wait and see what happens in the court, said Mishra.

Clearly, the BJD government was never keen on having a Lokayuta and now it is starting a process which will take time – first the notification then the rules have to be framed and various committee are to be formed before the person to man the post is selected.

They ( the BJD) delayed it for four years and will continue to stretch the process for as long as possible, charged Mishra. In 2014, CM Naveen Patnaik who vows by probity, transparency and so on boasted that Odisha is the first state to enact the Lokayukta Act in the wake of the Jan Lok Pal movement launched by Anna Hazare.

A few BJD leaders had even shared the protest dias with Anna Hazare at Delhi . Leaders like Bhatruhari Mahatab, MP had declared that the Lokayukta will come in to existence in Odisha in three months time. All that appeared to be for public consumption and media hype.

The Act was passed in the Assembly and the President of India gave his assent to it in 2015. Three years have passed and the necessary notification for the Act to come in to force was issue only on Monday. Evidently, the case in the apex court had forced the hands of the government.