Maharashtra Lokayukta

The Maharashtra Lokayukta is an apex statutory functionary in the State of Maharashtra, independent of the governing political and public administration, created to address the grievances of the people against the Govt. of Maharashtra and its administration. Lokayukta, the Indian equivalent of the Parliamentary Ombudsman was first established in the State of Maharashtra in 1971. It was established through The Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971. (Although, Odisha was the first state to pass the act in 1970, it was implemented only in 1983 when it nominated its first lokayukta).[5][1] [6][7][8]

Maharashtra Lokayukta
Agency overview
Formed1971[1]
Employees85[2]
Annual budget₹3.5 crore (US$440,000)[2]
Jurisdictional structure
Federal agencyIndia
Operations jurisdictionIndia
Constituting instrument
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersNew Administrative Building, 1st Floor, Madam Kama Marg, Opposite Mantralaya, Mumbai, India[3]
Agency executive
  • V M Kanade, Lokayukta of Maharashtra .[4]
Website
https://lokayukta.maharashtra.gov.in

The Governor appoints the Lokayukta after due consultations with Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court and Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Upa-Lokayukta is appointed after consultation with the Lokayukta. Once appointed, Lokayuka or Upa-Lokayukta can remain in office for a term of five years.[1]

Oath or affirmation

I, <name>, having been appointed Lokayuka (or Upa-Lokayukta) do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will bear faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.

— First Schedule, The Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1971

Appointment and tenure

Following is the list of Lokayuktas for Maharashtra:[9]

IndexNameHolding charge fromHolding charge to
1 S. P. Kotwal 25.10.1972  24.10.1977
2 L. M. Nadkarni 25.10.1977 01.01.1978
3 A. R. Shimpi 02.01.1978 25.01.1979
4 S. V. Bhave 26.01.1979 05.09.1979
5 N. D. Kamath 06.09.1979 to be updated

V. M. Kanade appointed as Lokayukta in 2021

Removal

Lokayuka or Upa-Lokayukta can be removed from his office through the process of impeachment. The removal can only be on the grounds of misbehavior or incapacity and no other grounds. The procedure for removal is as per Article 311 of Constitution of India.[1]

Notable cases
  • In May 2021, state governor had referred to Lokayukta of the alleged wrong practices followed in eticketing tenders of MSRTC for investigation and appropriate action.[11]
  • The institution received around 23,718 complaints for investigation from January'2015 to June'2019.[12]

Powers

Any citizen can make his/her complaints of corruption directly to the Lokayukta against any government official or elected representative. Lokayukta's power varies from State to State. In some States, the Lokayukta inquires into allegations against public functionaries including Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs. While some has the power to investigate into civil servants/bureaucrats, judiciary and police.

In year 2019, Maharashtra Government brought the Chief Minister's office under the purview of this institution.[13]

The state also introduced online complaint facility service for the public.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Maharashtra Lokayukta Act" (PDF). Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  2. "Toothless Watch Dogs - Image file". India Today. February 11, 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  3. "punedistrict.com - Vigilance". punedistrict.com. Retrieved 15 March 2013.
  4. "Lokayukta Maharashtra". lokayukta.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  5. "Maharashtra Lokayukta Act English and Marathi". lokayukta.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
  6. "Lokayukta a 'paper tiger' in Anna's home state". The Times of India. Aug 18, 2011. Archived from the original on October 21, 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  7. "Lokayukta Maharashtra". lokayukta.maharashtra.gov.in. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  8. Editor, Insights (25 August 2020). "Lokayukta". INSIGHTSIAS. Retrieved 8 July 2021. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
  9. Gupta, Balram K. (1984). "A Balance-Sheet of State Lokayuktas". Journal of the Indian Law Institute. 26 (1/2): 122–144. JSTOR 43950890.
  10. Lewis, Clara (22 April 2021). "Mumbai: Lokayukta seeks report on plaint against Anil Parab | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  11. Sen, Somit (27 May 2021). "Maharashtra governor forwards 'MSRTC scam' letter to Lokayukta | Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  12. Deshpande, Alok (26 December 2019). "Lokayukta gets 23,718 complaints in five years, recommends action in 364". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  13. "Maharashtra govt brings CMO under Lokayukta". Deccan Chronicle. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  14. "Only four states have appointed judicial, non-judicial members of Lokayukta, says report". The Economic Times. 8 December 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
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