At a time when the Lokayukta is examining the complaints against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Higher Education Minister R. Bindu, the CPI(M)-led government in Kerala has decided to bring an ordinance to amend the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999 in such a manner that it would have the powers to reject the report of the anti-corruption body.
The state cabinet which met last week has recommended to the governor to issue the ordinance to amend the Act. As per the proposed amendment, the Lokayukta would have only the powers to make recommendations or send reports to the government. The amendment is aimed at giving powers to the government to “either accept or reject the verdict of the Lokayukta, after giving an opportunity of being heard’’.
The move has created a furore in the political circles with the opposition linking the decision to the two pending cases against the CM and the higher education minister.
Senior Congress legislator and former opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said the government should reveal the urgency behind the ordinance to dilute the powers of the Lokayukta.
“CPI(M) has been always demanding to strengthen the Lokpal system to fight against corruption. However, party’s politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has decided to clip the wings of the anti-corruption body. The government’s move to rob the powers of the Lokayukta is unprecedented,” he said.
Chennithala said that the government fears that it would face adverse verdicts from the Lokayukta in the complaints against Vijayan and Bindu.
Law Minister P. Rajeeve, however, said that the ordinance has been prepared as directed by the AG and that it has no connection with the cases against the ministers. “The ordinance was prepared in accordance with the law of the country after studying the laws of other states,'' he said.
