Chennai: The conviction of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in the disproportionate assets case has revived the demand for setting up of a Lokayukta in the state. Tamil Nadu is one of nine states that does not have a Lokayukta despite the Centre enacting the Lokpal Act last year.
RTI and anti-corruption activist V. Gopalakrishnan said the Lokpal Act 2013 was enacted by the Central government in December 2013 and it came into force from January 16, 2014 after President Pranab Mukherjee gave his consent.
"There is no sign of the state government constituting a Lokayukta," he said, noting that except Tamil Nadu, all other southern states had appointed the anti-corruption ombudsman. "The state government should immediately constitute a Lokayukta and ensure its effective implementation like it is being done in Karnataka," he said.
Most of the political parties, including the Left parties, PMK and MDMK, have sought the setting up of a Lokayukta. CPM state secretary G. Ramakrishnan said the Lokpal Act was passed in Parliament after a public outcry against corruption. "People are angered over the looting of natural resources and corrupt practices by those in power," he said, adding that till date a Lokayukta had not been constituted in the state.
Satta Panchayat Iyyakkam general secretary Senthil Arumugham said the state government should immediately set up an autonomous Lokayukta to enable people fight corrupt practices in the government machinery. "An autonomous anti-corruption ombudsman will not only act against corruption among lower level officials but also against politicians and bureaucrats," he said, pointing out that the existing vigilance department did not act independently but took orders from the government to prosecute those involved in corruption.
Mr Arumugham said the Lokayukta should be appointed along with the Right to Services (RTS), the time-bound service delivery system, and the Right to Information Act. "RTS ensures timely delivery of services and if there is a delay, the official will be penalised and the petitioner
given compensation," he said.
The Lokayukta remains ineffective in many states as only favourites of chief ministers are appointed to the top post, M.G. Devasahayam, convenor of the Forum for Electoral Integrity, said. "Adding or multiplying the institutions will not solve the problem. Existing institutions like vigilance and CBI should be made to function effectively," he said.
