Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asserted that his government had “bold intentions” to have “a strong and effective” Lokayukta, but needed to clarify whether the post of the Lokayukta would be brought under the Centre’s proposed Lokpal bill.
“We want to have a strong and effective Lokayukta. We have bold intentions for the purpose and will bring the Chief Minister within the ambit of Lokayukta in the bill proposed to be brought during the winter session of the State assembly”, Mr. Kumar told reporters.
“But according to the debate held in Parliament, views have been expressed for bringing Lokayukta within the purview of Lokpal, citizen charter, besides the public servants in the lower level”, he said.
“The State government has prepared itself on Lokayukta... we are making our own legislation... we have discussed the matter with various people and elicited their views on the issue of a strong Lokayukta”, Mr. Kumar said.
“But we will also have to see if there have been provisions for bringing the Lokayuktas of States in case the Parliament approves the Lokpal bill,” he said.
“If the Parliamentary committee seeks our views on the issue of Lokayuktas, we will respond”, the Chief Minister added.
