Drop secrecy clause in Lokayukta rules: Stalin

DMK president MK Stalin said all the investigations through Lokayukta should be transparent. Citing the Lokayukta notification that every inquiry shall be conducted in private and in particular the identity of the complainant and of the public functionary affected by the inquiry shall not be disclosed to the public, Stalin said, “these rules have been framed to save the ministers since they are facing various corruption charges.”

“It (investigation through Lokayutka) should be made public,” the DMK leader said adding that the rules to keep investigation inside the four walls should be scrapped.

Stalin claimed the search committee, which has the power to change the head and the members of the Lokayutka, will not appoint persons, who do not favour the government. The DMK leader also accused the state government that the Lokayutka Bill was not referred to a select committee of the Tamil Nadu Assembly. “Social and anti-corruption activists were shocked and disappointed that the Lokayutka do not have provision to probe allegations of corruption against the Ministers and Chief Minister,” he added.

The Leader of the Opposition said the chairperson of the anti-corruption watchdog has not been appointed even 128 days after the passage of a Bill. Stalin said that the government should appoint an honest and untainted person to head the Lokayukta, which was notified by the government on Thursday. He said the institution of Lokayukta envisaged by the government is “without power.”