Team Herald
PORVORIM: The controversial Goa Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill 2021 was passed by the House by a division of votes of 23 to 7.
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The opposition benches demanded that the Bill be sent to the Select Committee as there were over nine amendments proposed.
However, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the government is in a hurry to appoint a Lokayukta as per the High Court order and hence the Bill needs to be passed.
Leader of the Opposition Digambar Kamat said that instead of amending the law and weakening the institution, the government must scrap the Lokayukta altogether.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said the government wants to make the Lokayukta a toothless tiger. “The past experience with Lokayukta Mishra has been very bad for this government as the Lokayukta has given orders against many of current MLAs and ministers,” Sardesai said.
Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte also demanded that the government scrap the Lokayukta. “This government has a phobia against Lokayukta and that is why the qualifications have been diluted,” he said. He urged the government not to become a laughing stock and remove the Lokayukta completely
Reacting to the statements, the CM said that some of the reports sent by the former Lokayukta have been sent to ACB for investigations, while some have gone to the Governor for further orders. “The amendments are necessary as Goa is a small State and to get HC or SC judge is difficult,” the CM said.
The House also passed The Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2021, The Goa (Regulation of House Advance) Bill, 2021, The Goa Staff Selection Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and The Goa Non-Biodegradable Garbage (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
