TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the legislative assembly that controversial clauses in the Lokayukta Bill 2013 would be changed during the on-going session, as the Goa governor returned the bill for re-consideration of the Goa assembly, on Thursday.
“The draft for amendment on these particular clauses is being moved and the sections will be modified in this session,” Parrikar said after the Speaker Rajendra Arlekar informed the legislators that Goa Governor Bharat Vir Wanchoo has returned the Lokayukta Amendment Bill back to the house for its re-consideration.
The governor has requested the house to reconsider clauses pertaining to deemed rejection and penalty to the complainant of up to Rs 10 lakh for filing false or frivolous complaints.
The governor’s note to the house says that ‘The clause of deemed rejection sought to be introduced by section 16 (A) (5) appears to be contrary to customary norms and the reforms may be reconsidered.’
On the second clause, the note says, ‘The amendment of section 19 (i) which seeks to increase the costs/compensation payment to the public functionary by the complainant in order to prevent filing of false and frivolous and vexatious complaints may also be re-considered in terms of the quantum of increase that has been proposed in the said amendment.’
The government has been under pressure to have the two clauses changed in terms of deemed rejection to deemed acceptance and reduction of fine imposed. The government is , however, not in favour of dropping the punitive clause in case of filing of false complaints.
While other states have provided for deemed acceptance clauses, Goa incorporated provisions for deemed rejection in the bill which could allow for rejection of a probe report against errant officials by its Lokayukta within a period of three months by the competent authority.
During the last three months the Goa government was under tremendous pressure from all quarters of society to effect changes to the Lokayukta Amendment Bill 2013 pertaining to the these two clauses and the Goa governor was also requested not to accord his assent to the bill.
