Uttarakhand assembly passes Lokayukta Bill

DEHRA DUN: Uttarakhand assembly tonight passed a bill to set up a Lokayukta which brings in its net the post of the Chief Minister, ministers, MLAs and government servants including IAS and IPS officers with a provision of life imprisonment or more severe punishment.

After a marathon discussion, the House passed the Uttararakhand Lokayukta Bill, 2011, unanimously.

Chief Minister B C Khanduri said the Bill will go a long way in the fight against corruption.

Soon after being sworn in on September 11, Khanduri had vowed to set up the strong lokayukta within two months.

While the lower judiciary will be covered under the Lokayukta, judges of the Uttarakhand High Court will not be under the purview of the anti-corruption ombudsman which is a mixture of Lokpal draft of Anna Hazare and others.

Former chief ministers, former ministers and retired officers will also be under the purview of the Lokayukta