Haryana Lokayukta disposes off 37 complaints

Chandigarh, Oct 17: The Haryana Lokayukta disposed off 37 complaints out of the 74 it has received since its inception on January 16 this year.

In majority of the cases, action were not taken on the representations of the people by the competent authority, Lokayukta, Justice (retd) N K Sud said while interacting with the mediapersons here today.

He made it clear that the Lokayukta had been entertaining only those complaints which were falling under its purview as per Lokayukta Act, 2002.

While replying to a question regarding receiving very few complaints during the last 10 months, he said the people did not know Lokayukta's office. He said the media could play a vital role in motivating people to approach the Lokayukta for the redressal of their grievances.

A website of the office of Lokayukta will be launched soon, he disclosed.

Justice Sud said that he would visit all the district headquarters within the next two months after inacting the rules of the office of Lokayukta so that people from all walks of life could benefit from this institution. He maintained that the meaning of the term 'public servant' was very wide and included persons holding keys posts in the State government.These include Ministers, Chairmen, MLAs, Vice Chairmen, Mayors, Deputy Mayors, President and Vice Presidents of Municipal Committees, MDs of boards and corporation etc.

He said that the complainant has to file an affidavit alongwith the complaint to the extent that the allegations levelled by the petitioner were true in nature and nothing concrete had been concealed.

He stressed the need to build confidence among the masses about the credibility of the Lokayukta office. He said that most of the complaints belonged to the inaction of the government departments and corresponding authorities in disposing of the grievances. He suggested that people should desist from levelling baseless and wild allegations out of political vendetta or to grind their own axe.

To a question,he made it clear that the Lokayukta was not a final authority to take a decision. He could only recommend a decision to the government and it was for the appropriate authority in the government to take the ultimate decision.

He said Lokayukta offices in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh were strong as they could take a final decision on the complaints received. In order to provide uniformity in the functioning of Lokayukta offices of all the states rules were being framed at the India level.

He pointed out that an enactment of a Central legislation had been recommended by the Association of the Lokayukta at a meeting which was held at Dehradun in the presence of President and Prime Minister.

UNI