Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta starts functioning in Kurnool

KURNOOL: The AP Lok Ayukta offices have formally started functioning from Kurnool on Saturday, with the first complaint being received by Lokayukta Justice P. Lakshman Reddy from a 70-year-old woman, who is seeking an investigation into complaints of corruption against a public servant.

The state government had recently passed orders shifting AP Lok Ayukta and Upa-Lok Ayukta offices from Hyderabad to Kurnool. Following this, the AP Lokayukta’s office was inaugurated by Justice Lakshman Reddy on Saturday at the state guest house in Kurnool city.

Justice Reddy said people of Rayalaseema can file their grievances against corruption among officials in the region with the Lok Ayukta reaching their doorstep to redress their grievances.

Drawing comparisons, he said people from coastal Andhra are well aware of Lokayukta and had filed a good number of cases against corrupt officials.
In this context, the Lok Ayukta said Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is giving maximum importance to transparency and village secretariats. But he said there are complaints against village secretaries as they are hiding information from eligible beneficiaries.

Emphasising on role of Lok Ayukta, Justice Reddy said it protects citizens' rights against mal-administration, corruption, delay, inefficiency, non-transparency, abuse of position, and improper conduct.

Dispelling fears of distance, the Lokayukta said people need not come to Kurnool for filing cases. They could as well send their grievances by post, courier or registered post. These will be taken up immediately. He asked aggrieved people to complain against officials who have failed to discharge their duties or have discharged them insufficiently.

District collector P. Koteswara Rao, Andhra Pradesh Lok Ayukta registrar Vijaya Lakshmi, AP Lokayukta secretary Amarendar Reddy, district SP Ch. Sudheer Kumar Reddy and others participated in the inaugural ceremony.