The state Assembly had passed the bill on Thursday
Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa speaks at the Legislative Council during Assembly session at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday (Photo: KPN)
Bengaluru: After much deliberation, the Legislative Council on Friday approved the Karnataka Lokayukta (amendment) bill, 2015 which allows the state government to remove the Lokayukta after obtaining a two-thirds majority in both Houses of the legislature. The state Assembly had passed the bill on Thursday.
The new bill has revised the eligibility criteria for appointment of the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta. It has revised the procedure for removal of the ombudsman and his deputy and also has a clause to take over the powers of the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta during the pendency of the motion for his removal before the House.
Council members urged the state government to fix a time frame for submission of the report by the Chief Justice or the Judges committee nominated by him on the ‘misbehaviour’ of the Lokayukta or Upalokayukta which necessitates his removal.
Opposition BJP members wanted the government to remove Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao immediately after his son Ashwin Y was arrested in the extortion racket.
Notwithstanding the present amendment to the Lokayukta Act, the government has decided to bring a comprehensive amendment to Karnataka Lokayukta act on the lines of Lokpal bill. Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra informed the Council that the government will convene a special legislative session in September 2015 to secure approval for the comprehensive bill.
“Soon after BBMP polls, the government will bring a comprehensive amendment bill. Within one month, I will prepare the bill after consulting opposition members of both Houses and the bill will be placed before the House”, Mr Jayachandra told Mr Eshwarappa.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
Next Story
