Law changed, Telangana to get Lok Ayukta at last
Norm eased, retired High Court judge can be Lok Ayukta.
Hyderabad: After facing the wrath of the High Court several times, the state government is finally taking steps to appoint Lok Ayukta by amending the legislation.
The existing Telangana Lok Ayukta Act, 1983, stipulates that the person to be appointed as Lok Ayukta shall be a retired Chief Justice of the High Court.
On November 29 while dealing with petitions moved questioning the inaction of the state government in appointing the Lok Ayukta and constituting the state human rights commission, the Telangana High Court directed the state government to appoint the Lok Ayukta and set up the Human Rights Commission by December 30.
Following the directions, the state government has issued an ordinance amending the Telangana Lok Ayukta Act 1983 in view of non-availability of retired chief justices in the state
The state government in order to mitigate non-availability of retired chief justices has amended the Act paving the way to appoint a retired judge of the High Court as Lok Ayukta.
The government has also issued a notification constituting the Telangana state human rights commission on Friday
The state has been deprived of its Lok Ayukta and human rights commission as the state government has not taking any steps to constitute both institutions since its formation.
As the per the AP Reorganisation Act 2014, the existing AP Lokayukta and the AP state human rights commission has to be bifurcated within two years from the appointed day, June 2, 2014. But the state government has not taken any steps from the past six years.
As the line was clear to appoint the Lok Ayukta, the government will request the High Court to suggest the names of the retired judges to select one among them to head the Lok Ayukta.
According to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the state human rights commission also to be headed by a retired Chief Justice, is likely to be amended, in view of the scarcity of the retired chief justices in the state, so that a retired judge might head the commission.