Anti Corruption cell; a good move – But nobody is a fool, introduce Lok Ayukta

Nongthombam Biren Singh led government decision to establish an Anti Corruption Cell is perhaps an appreciative move which showed his government interest to wiping out the corruption. The motive of the new government is worth praising, but one thing skeptical to the public is on the modus operandi of this so call anti corruption cell. The new cell to check corruption is rather like an imitation famous bollywood movei “Nayak” at which Superstar Anil Kapoor play a role of Chief Minister for one day. If the Chief Minister Nongthobam Biren and his colleagues are no lesser than the God, then perhaps the so call anti corruption cell could work.
Another thing which is more concern is that, this so call anti corruption cell will be no difference from the toothless tiger as there are no laws for taking up appropriate action if in case the legislators and higher bureaucrats who are influential to Ministers or any political party, as it will be rather a one man decision. After all the Nonthombam Biren led government is a coalition government.
The matter is being brought to the notice so as make the legislators, particularly to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh aware that there is a legislation to check corruption in the country popularly known as ‘Lok Ayukta’ ‘Lok Pal’.
It is a known fact that The Lok Ayukta is an anti-corruption authority ombudsman (an ombudsman is an official, appointed by the government or by parliament to represent the interests of the public). It deals with abuse of administrative discretion, misuse of power, mal-administrative, inefficiency, administrative corruption, nepotism, discourtesy etc. Any citizen can make his/her complaints of corruption directly to the Lok Ayukta against any government official or elected representative. The Lok Ayukta investigates allegations of corruption and mal¬administration against public servants and is tasked with speedy redressal of public grievances. The Lok Ayukta is usually a former High Court Chief Justice or former Supreme Court judge and has a fixed tenure.
The vision document of the BJP produced before the election had clearly mentioned about eradicating corruption from the soil of the state. And opening a cell for checking corruption instead of making a move to introduce lok ayukta seems like an act to just show that the BJP has taken up measures to fulfill its promises. But it would be wrong to consider all the people of the state as fools if not all as everyone is aware of the anti corruption bill which the state government has not introduce till today.
To recall on the move to introduce the Lok Ayukta as per directives of the central government the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed the ‘Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill, 2014’, it received the assent of the President of India on 23rd October 2014 and it became an Act – ‘Lok Ayukta Act, 2014’.
The Manipur Lok Ayukta should consist of a Chairman and two members of whom one should be a Judicial Member. They have to be appointed by the Governor on the recommendations of the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee consists of 1) the Chief Minister, 2) the Speaker, 3) the Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly, 4) the Chief Justice of High Court or a Judge of the High Court nominated by him and 5) an eminent Jurist recommended by the Chairman and the Members.
But unfortunately the then government killed the legislation for reason best known to them.