Ahmedabad: The controversial Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill 2013 has been passed by state Assembly on Tuesday after it was returned by Governor Kamla Beniwal.
The Governor had on September 2 returned the Lokayukta Aayog Bill 2013 passed by the Assembly in April, 2013.
Modi government had proposed to repeal the 27-year-old act itself completely and replace it with the new Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill 2013 in which it has seized the key powers of the governor and of the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court of suggesting the Lokayukta.
Earlier, the Congress had alleged that it curbs the powers of the Governor and the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court.
The Bill says the selection committee comprises six members. The chief minister would be its Chairperson, while Speaker of the Assembly, a minister nominated by the chief minister, Leader of the Opposition and Vigilance Commissioner of the state would be the members. For inclusion of a member from the judicial side, the Bill proposes that the selection committee shall also comprise "one judge of the High Court of Gujarat, to be nominated by the Chief Justice of the HC in consultation with the collegiums of five senior judges."
The Bill proposes to make the Lokayukta Aayog a multi-member body as it will have up to four up-Lokayuktas apart from one Lokayukta. Apart from the council of ministers, the Bill proposes to bring all public functionaries and office bearers of all local self-government bodies, including municipal corporations, municipalities, and boards and corporations of the state government under its ambit.
The Bill also proposes a special provision which gives pivotal power to the state government in excluding any 'public functionaries' from the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta.
(With additional information from PTI)
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