Lokayukta will turn redundant if Governor signs this bill

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is only a matter of time until the Governor signs a bill that makes the Lokayukta redundant. The bill mainly points to taking power away from Lokayukta. Governor recently softened his stance and gave away to sign the earlier contested bills. The government is hopeful that the governor will put his ink to the Lokayukta bill in the coming days. The bill amends the 14th section of the Lokayukta that earlier asked the official to quit his government-allotted residence if found corrupt.

According to the bill, if the Lokayukta finds someone corrupt, the chief minister and the assembly can overturn the decision with ease. If the Lokayuta deems the chief minister as corrupt, then it will be the assembly that will be the appellate authority to decide further actions. For the ministers, if found doing any ill deals, the appellate authority will be the chief minister.

Hitherto, the governor said he will send the bill to the president as Rajbhavan made apprehension about the opposition getting hunted down if the bill gets passed into law. If the Lokayukta verdicts get further check by the government, then the institution will go down in ranks similar to a judicial commission with no importance.