Panaji: The Goa government on Monday said that
Lokayukta Bill, introduced in the state Legislative Assembly
in 2003, would be withdrawn as it was suffering from "legal
infirmity" and various Union ministries had raised objections.
State Law Secretary Pramod Kamat said today that
withdrawal was supposed to be discussed during the recently
concluded session of the Assembly.
"However, on account of boycott by BJP and pandemonium in
the House, the same could not be taken up," he said.
Kamat was addressing a brainstorming session on
‘Lokayukta: Goa`s Concerns`, organized by International Centre
Goa at Dona Paula, near here.
Justice Santosh Hegde -- Lokayukta of Karnataka and
member of the Jan Lokpal Bill Drafting Committee -- was
present as a special guest.
Kamat said that several central government departments
had pointed out anomalies in the bill after it was referred
for the consideration of President of India.
"The Ministry of Law and Justice has made certain
observations relating to the clause 19 of the Bill," he said.
Ministry of Personnel said that jurisdiction provisions
in Goa Lokayukta Bill and Model State Vigilance Commission
Bill overlapped.
"Department of Legal Affairs also stated that clause 18
of the Bill appears to be contrary to the provisions of
Section 22 of Right to Information (RTI) Act," Kamat said.
"As the bill suffers from legal infirmity, it was
decided to withdraw it," Kamat said.
PTI
