Uttarakhand HC Directs State Govt To Appoint Lokayukta Within Eight Weeks

The Uttarakhand High Court recently directed the state government to appoint the Lokayukta within a period of eight weeks.

A bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding the prolonged delay in the appointment of the Lokayukta, despite substantial expenditure being allocated to the anti-corruption institution.

The bench has mandated the government to appoint a Lokayukta within the given timeframe and ensure that the institution becomes fully operational. Additionally, it directed the state government to suspend all expenditure related to the Lokayukta office until a compliance report is submitted.

This decision by the high court arises from a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Ravishankar Joshi, a resident and social worker from Haldwani (Gaulapar). The PIL highlights the fact that an annual expenditure of Rs 2 to 3 crore is being incurred for the Lokayukta institution, yet the state government has failed to appoint a Lokayukta as of now.

The PIL is scheduled to be heard again on August 10, 2023. Emphasizing the necessity of a Lokayukta appointment, the petition states that all investigation agencies in the state are presently under the control of the government. It further argues that no investigation agency in Uttarakhand possesses the authority to initiate a corruption case against officials without prior permission from the government or file a charge sheet in any court following an investigation.