Special Rules for Permanent Appointments in Lokayukta; appointment to those who have been on deputation for four years

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Special rule is being brought in to turn the Lokayukta, who has lost his teeth by curtailment of power, into a place of permanent appointment of favourites. At present, all the employees have come on deputation from various departments. The special rule is to bring Lokayukta service instead. The first step is to give permanent appointments to those who have been on deputation for four years in Lokayukta service. The move is to approve more posts by making special rules. With this, the government's favourites will get permanent appointments in the Lokayukta.

This is justified by pointing out that there are 1800 posts in the Karnataka Lokayukta. There are 91 posts here. The budget allocation for salaries is Rs.8.03 crore.

The existing posts are Court Officer, Section Officer, Senior Grade Assistant, Office Attendant, Attendants, ADGP of the investigating agency, SP, two DySPs, three Inspectors and 3 CPOs. With the coming of the special rule, all other deputations, except deputation from the police, will become part of the Lokayukta service.

Temporary staff can be made permanent

The Lokayukta had quasi-judicial powers with the District Judge as Registrar and the Sub-Judge as Deputy Registrar. With the recall of all the judges by the High Court, the retired ones should be appointed. Although the Lokayukta and two Upalokayuktas have personal staff, they are appointed on a co-terminus basis with the staff also leaving on the expiry of their terms.

Like the Judicial Commission

• With the removal of the power to order the removal of public servants if they are found to be corrupt the Lokayukta has been reduced to the level of a judicial commission of inquiry. The government can accept or reject the recommendations.
• According to the amendment, a retired Supreme Court judge or a retired High Court Chief Justice is not required to become a Lokayukta. A retired High Court Judge is enough. Govt's favourites can be appointed. 70 years of service age limit for judges.

Single member Lokayukta

With the retirement of Lokayukta Justice Cyriak Joseph and Upalokayukta Justice Babu Mathew P. Joseph, only Upalokayukta Justice Haroon-Al-Rasheed remains. The number of cases fell by a fifth in five years.

Budget allocation for Lokayukta: 8.57 crores

Cases dropping in number

2016-------1264

2017-------1673

2018-------1578

2019-------1057

2020-------205

2021-------227

2022-------305

2023-------197