Why Lokayukta fails to check public servants’ corruption

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: What has made the Lokayukta a toothless entity in Assam unlike that of Nagaland and Meghalaya? The catch-all concept is lack of political will.

Various slogan-shouting organizations in Assam often take to the streets against corruption by public servants. However, they seldom drop complaints in the Lokayukta against public servants for their corrupt practices. On the contrary, a few days back the potent Nagaland Lokayukta ordered a preliminary investigation against the Deputy Chief Minister of the State for ‘offering to help a candidate’ in getting a job through the State Public Service Commission. The Lokayukta ordered the investigation based on a complaint lodged with it against the alleged nepotism by the Deputy Chief Minister. This is not the only case as to how an independent investigating agency like the Lokayukta can do wonders in its fight against corruption by public servants. A few months back, the Meghalaya Lokayukta ordered CBI inquiry into the coal scam in the State after receiving a complaint from a person.

However, this is simply not happening in Assam. The few people who lodge complaints against public servants have also lost interest as the existing Act fails to yield the right results. Lodging a complaint against a public servant is not free from risk. If a person takes the risk of lodging complaints against public servants and don’t get the desired results, why will he/she take such risk? A thorough analysis of the entire situation makes one zero in on political will or lack of it. When the amended Lokayukta Act can do wonders in its two neighbouring States, what makes Assam to continue with the outdated Act without bringing any amendment to it? The Chief Minister of the State is trying to fight against corruption with the available government agencies. Why doesn’t he amend the Lokayukta Act in sync with the Central Lokpal and Lokayukta Act and provide it all facilities?

Now the Lokayukta has its authorized cells in each and every DC office so as to make people lodge their complaints locally without having to visit the Lokayukta headquarters in Guwahati. However, the district Lokayukta cells have not shrugged of their laid-back attitude. Even under the Central Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, the State Lokayukta can order declaration of assets of the family members of a public servant through the proper channel.

Awareness on Lokayukta, on the other hand, has been neglected in Assam by the successive governments for reasons best known to them. Concluded

Also Watch: Rapido Captains become jobless from Satuday! Expressed their pain before THE SENTINEL DIGITAL