Mail News Service
Imphal, Dec 22: : The Manipur Legislative Assembly today passed the Lok Ayukta Bill 2011. Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh moved the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011. Opposition leader, Radhabinod Koijam and opposition members O Joy, R K Anand, Dr Ibohalbi appealed to the House to consider full discussions on the matter however Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh pressed for quick decision on the matter.
O Joy said the Lok Ayukta could not initiate investigation against the Chief Minister without approval of the Assembly . Two third majority is required and such pre-requisite will be hard to be fulfilled. Other Opposition members said the decision was welcome but it will be like a toothless tiger.
Chief Minister has to take the decision regarding probe against a minister. Inspite of the Opposition the matter was taken up and the House passed it. The last session of the ninth Legislative Assembly will have just three sittings and conclude today.
Regarding the issue of functioning of Naga People’s Front (NPF) in Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh said the Election Commission was discussing the matter. A branch of NPF was opened in Manipur and Manipur government informed the EC that as per constitution of the NPF the NPF shall be constituted by the state of Nagaland with 60 Assembly constituencies.
Ibobi said the opening of NPF in Manipur appears to be violation of the Constitution of the NPF.
Speaker, I Hemochandra presented special gifts to the Chief Minister , O Ibobi Singh, leader of the Opposition, Radhabinod Koijam. All members were presented a laptop by the Speaker.
Chief Minister O Ibobi moved the Manipur Lok Ayukta Bill 2011 to pass it in the House, saying since our State is within a democratic country the Centre has asked the government to choose either Lok Ayukta Bill or Lokpal Bill and “we have chosen the former to check corruption in the State”.
The Chief Minister also told the House that corruption being the most important issue now in the country; everybody wants to root it out from the top to the bottom from the society.
Opposition leader and MPP MLA O Joy gave the party’s nod to the bill but argued that the adequately qualified authority over the chief minister within the purview of the bill must be the Governor and not the Assembly House. He said the Governor takes oath while a chief minister takes its office.
However, MPP MLA R.K. Anand stressed that the competent authority over the chief minister and his council of ministers should only be Lok Ayukta itself.
State NCP chief Radhabinod Koijam also expressed his view regarding the competent authority which will have the absolute power to investigate against the chief minister on corruption charges saying the authority over the chief minister should not be the Assembly in any way, adding that it would be inappropriate.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/lok-ayukta-bill-passed/
