Odisha Gives More Teeth To Lokayukta

Bhubaneswar: With the Odisha Assembly passing the Odisha Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2022, the anti-corruption watchdog will now have the power to issue contempt of court orders under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and treat wilful disobedience of its order or direction of any government official as serious misconduct entailing departmental action.

Moving the bill in the Assembly, Chief Minister and Minister in charge of General Administration and Public Grievance Naveen Patnaik said that the Lokayukta had suggested the state government for making suitable provisions in the Act to strengthen the authority of the institution of Lokayukta.

A new provision will be inserted to empower the Lokayukta with the power of contempt of the high court and the Supreme Court. The proposed amendment further said the government servants are required to comply with the notices/orders of the Lokayukta for timely disposal of its proceedings. “Any wilful disobedience of any process, order or direction of the Lokayukta shall be treated as misconduct entailing departmental action/disciplinary proceeding against the officer concerned on the recommendation of the Lokayukta,” read the amended legislation.