Cabinet Minister Deepak Kesarkar introduced the Maharashtra Lokayukta Bill 2022 to the Assembly on Monday.
The Bill will subject the Chief Minister and the government to the anti-corruption ombudsman’s oversight. The Bill stipulates that the Lokayukta must get the assembly’s consent before opening any inquiries into the chief minister and presenting a proposal to the house for consideration. Such a proposal would require the consent of at least two-thirds of the entire Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, in accordance with the requirements of the Bill.
According to the bill, the Lokayukta would not look into situations involving accusations of corruption against the Chief Minister that are connected to internal security or public order. Additionally, it is stated that any such investigation shall be conducted in confidence, and if the Lokayukta determines that the complaint should be rejected, the investigation’s documents shall not be made public or accessible to the public.
The Lokayukta must have a chairperson who is either a current or former Chief Justice of a High Court, as required by the legislation. In addition to this, a judge from the Bombay High Court or the Supreme Court will be present.
According to the measure proposed in the assembly, the absence of any members of the selection committee will not render any appointments to the positions of chairman or member of the Lokayukta unlawful.
The state government introduced the Lokayukta bill in the House amidst an uproar, which the opposition resisted. NCP MLA Dilip Valse Patil accused the government of attempting to pass significant bills like Lokayukta amidst a commotion, which is against democratic ideals.
