Telangana appoints its First Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta

The State Government of Telangana has appointed the Former judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court, Justice C.V Ramulu as the first anti-corruption ombudsman, Lokayukta of the state after Governor of Telangana, Tamilsai Sounderarajan accepted the recommendation of the name by the Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao headed the committee. Based on the recommendations of the committee, the Governor has also appointed Former Law Secretary, V Niranjan Rao as the first Upa-Lokayukta of the state.
Lokayukta once appointed, neither can be dismissed nor transferred by the state government, for removing a Lokayukta an impeachment motion has to be passed by the state assembly of that state. Maharashtra was the first state in the country to appoint Lokayukta in 1971 bypassing the Maharashtra Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act in 1971.
Similar Act has been passed by 26 states in the country to date, and one union territory of Delhi for appointing Lokayukta in their particular states. Telangana became the 27th state to appoint Lokayukta in the country.
Earlier this year, in February, the state assembly of Mizoram passed the Lokayukta bill.
The Parliament of India has passed the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 on 17th December 2013, under which National Level anti-corruption ombudsman, Lokpal was established and Pinaki Chandra Ghosh was appointed as the first Lokpal of India.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2020