Department of General Administration

Under the provisions as laid down in section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 of the Government of India, every state has to establish Lokayukta within one year from the commencement of the new Act. The objective of the Act is to establish a body of Lokayukta for the state to enquire into complaints of corruption covered under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against public servants. Accordingly Draft Odisha Lokayukta Bill 2014 for establishment of “Lokayukta” in the State of Odisha was prepared and the proposal for enactment of a law for establishment of the Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014 by repealing the Odisha Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 1955 was passed by the Assembly on 14.2.2014. The Bill was reserved by the Governor for consideration by the President of India. (Assembly) The Hon’ble President has given his assent to the bill in 2015.  After coming into force of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2015, the Lokayukta for the State shall be established.
The institution of Lokpal shall stand abolished as per provisions under Section 60 of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2015. With the abolition of Lokpal, every inquiry, investigation and other proceedings together with the record thereof relating to allegation of corruption pending under the Act repealed, shall stand transferred to the Lokayukta immediately on the date of establishment of Lokayukta. The offices and the posts created for the functioning of the Lokpal are to continue as such under the provisions of the Odisha Lokayukta Act until further provisions are made by the Government.
Action is being taken to publish the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2015 in the Official Gazette. Action is being taken to make Rules as per provisions under Section 57 of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2015.
          The purpose for bringing out the Lokayukta Act, 2015 is to provide for the establishment of a body of Lokayukta for the State of Odisha to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries including Chief Minister, Ministers, Members of the Legislature, officers and employees of the State Government and for matters connected with or incidental thereto.
          The panel would be selected by a committee headed by the Chief Minister and would include Leader of opposition, Chief Justice  of Odisha High Court or a Judge nominated by the Chief Justice and a jurist appointed by the Governor. The Lokayukta would be headed by a Chairman who would be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the selection committee. The Chairman would either be a sitting or a retired High Court judge. The other members would include at least two judicial members, women, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe or minority.