Search committee formed for appointment of Lokayukta in Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary presented affidavit in HC

A petition filed against the non-appointment of Lokayukta in Uttarakhand was heard in the Nainital High Court. During the hearing on Monday, the Chief Secretary on behalf of the government submitted an affidavit in compliance with the previous order. In which it was said that in compliance with the court order, the state government has constituted a search committee to appoint the Lokayukta. A meeting of which has been held on 22 February 2025.

The Chief Secretary told the court that the state government is fully complying with the provisions of the Lokayukta Act to appoint the Lokayukta. On which the division bench of Chief Justice G Narendra and Justice Ashish Naithani has asked the government to apprise it of the situation by the next date. The division bench has fixed the date after four weeks for the next hearing.

2 to 3 crore rupees are being spent annually in the name of the institute

Actually, Ravi Shankar Joshi, a resident of Gaulapar, Haldwani, has filed a PIL in the Nainital High Court. He has said that the state government has not yet appointed the Lokayukta. Whereas, 2 to 3 crore rupees are being spent annually in the name of Lok Ayukta Sansthan.

Even the smallest cases have to be brought to the High Court

The PIL states that in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, strict action is being taken against corruption by the Lok Ayukta, but in Uttarakhand, every small case of corruption has to be brought to the High Court.

Investigative agencies under the government

Apart from this, it has also been said in the petition that at present all the investigation agencies of the state are under the government, whose complete control is in the hands of the political leadership of the state.

At present, there is no independent investigation agency in Uttarakhand, which has the right to register a corruption case against any gazetted officer without prior permission and pressure of the government.

The Vigilance Department, which is promoted in the name of independent and impartial investigation, is also a part of the state police, whose complete control remains with the Police Headquarters, Vigilance Department or Chief Minister’s Office.

Earlier, the court had directed the government to appoint a Lokayukta, but till now neither that order has been complied with, nor has the Lokayukta been appointed. Now, the next hearing of the entire case will be held after four weeks.

2 Lokayuktas appointed in Uttarakhand

Let us tell you that in the year 2002, Lok Ayukta (Lokayukta) was formed in the first elected government. From the year 2002 to 2013, two Lokayuktas also took over the responsibility. Under which Justice HSA Raza was appointed the first Lokayukta in the year 2002.

At the same time, in the year 2008, Justice MM Ghildiyal was made the second Lokayukta, but since the year 2013, no Lokayukta has been appointed. An attempt was made to bring a strong Lokayukta, but this effort has not been completed in the last 12 years.