Pinarayi's 2019 article trumpeting vast powers of Kerala's Lokayukta embarrasses CPM

Thiruvananthapuram: A 2019 article written by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the CPM's mouthpiece "Chintha", applauding the vast powers enjoyed by Lokayukyta in Kerala has embarrassed his party when an attempt to amend certain key provisions of the Lokayukta Act is being made by the state government by way of an ordinance.

While claiming that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government was instrumental in implementing Lokayukta Act in Kerala, he further sought the support of the people of the State to strengthen the Lokayukta system.

The article says, "It is generally said that ombudsmen are watchdogs which can only bark and cannot bite. But Lokayukta, the Kerala edition of Ombudsman, has been given vast powers. If needed, our Lokayukta system has the authority to bite. Lokayukta can be approached by anyone aggrieved of corruption, inefficiency, indifference and delay at the administrative-level. The Lokayukta is able to deliver justice to the complainants without much technicalities and delay, and also recommend action against those who are responsible for the misdeeds.

"The Lokayukta Act is an example of the LDF Government's strong commitment towards ending corruption and misrule. From the figure of 159 cases in the first year of its inception, cases registered at the Lokayukta rose to 3,953 in 2019. Of the 35,456 cases filed at the Lokayukta so far, 34,662 cases were settled. This shows the utility value and acceptance of the Lokayukta."

As reported earlier the LDF Government has courted controversy over the move to bring in an ordinance for amending the key provisions of the Lokayukta Act. The government's move is allegedly aimed at diluting the strong provisions contained in the present Act to bring to book the corrupt political executives.