CPI hardens stand, terms Lokayukta amendment unconstitutional

CPI assistant secretary Prakash Babu
CPI assistant secretary Prakash Babu. Screengrab/MMTV

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI assistant secretary Prakash Babu has termed as "unconstitutional" the new amendment to the Kerala Lokayukta Act by which the State Government has the freedom to reject the verdict of the Lokayukta.

However, the government and the CPM have been advocating that the very provision which was deleted from the Lokayukta Act was unconstitutional. With this the differences between both the Left parties over the issue have reached a flash point.

The changes to the Kerala Lokayukta Act was effected by way of an ordinance which received the governor's nod on Monday.

Prakash Babu, while talking to Manorama News, asked why one should stick on to his seat of power if the Lokayukta system had found one indulging in corrupt practices.

The clause, which was agreed upon by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) after wide discussions held by the then Chief Minister EK Nayanar and then Law Minister E Chandrashekharan Nair in 1999 has now been scrapped, he pointed out.

It could be interpreted that the amendment was brought in to avert the scenario of Lokayukta removing an authority appointed by the governor as per the advice of the chief minister. But the particular clause epitomised the people-centric politics of the Left parties. The CPI does not support the move to question such a clause, he said.

When the ordinance becomes a Bill, there will be discussions in the LDF and the State Cabinet. Then, the CPI will express its opinion. When it is discussed in the Assembly, necessary changes can be made in the amendment, the CPI assistant secretary said.

"We don't think that the governor is a person who takes a strong stance. He signed the amendment as part of his dilly-dallying approach," Prakash Babu added.

As reported earlier CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran said no proper political discussions were held in the LDF over the Lokayukta Act amendment. He said the civil society and others who study the issue were not convinced about the introduction of an ordinance when the Assembly session is about to begin.

The ordinance now bestows power on the "competent authority" to either accept or reject the Lokayukta order after conducting a final hearing. The competent authority, however, will have to take a decision within three months or the Lokayukta verdict will be deemed as accepted.

The proposed ordinance has stoked concerns that the anti-corruption body, created to check corruption in the government, would be emasculated.

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