Maharashtra to have Lokayukta law on lines of Centre's Lokpal

The Maharashtra Cabinet approved the Anna Hazare Committee report for introducing a Lokayukta in Maharashtra on the lines of Lokpal. The Chief Minister and the entire Cabinet will also come under the purview of Lokayukta. “A Bill will be brought in this (winter session of Maharashtra legislature) session,” Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said. 

The recommendations of the panel led by social activist [and anti-graft crusader] Anna Hazare have been accepted completely. The Lokayukta will be a retired chief justice of the High Court or a Supreme Court (judge),” Mr. Fadnavis said, adding that a Bill will be brought in the upcoming Winter Session.

The Anti-corruption Act will be made a part of this law, and the Lokayukta will have a team of five people including retired judges. Remarking that it was the objective to run the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government with “complete transparency”, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he was determined to make Maharashtra “corruption free” and therefore his government had decided to introduce the Lokayukta law in the State.