Odisha Assembly adjourned repeatedly over Lokayukta appointment issue

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KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Assembly Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat adjourned the House twice after Opposition Congress members staged a sit-in near the Speaker’s podium over the delay in appointment of Lokayukta on Tuesday.

Protesting delay in appointment of Lokayukta and implementation of Odisha Lokayukta Act in the state, many Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra and party’s Chief Whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati, staged a sit-in near the podium as soon as the House assembled for the day. They continued their protest despite the request of Amat to cooperate in the business of the House, following which, the Speaker adjourned the House till 11.30 AM.

Again he adjourned the House till 3 PM when the BJP members joined the Congress MLAs and caused chaos over the same issue soon after the House reassembled at 11.30 AM.

Both Congress and BJP members had created ruckus yesterday by demanding either a ruling from the Speaker or a clarification from the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard.

Notably, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, received the President’s nod on January 1, 2014 and came into force from January 16, 2014. Section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas states that every state shall establish a body to be known as the Lokayukta. However, 12 states including Odisha are yet to appoint Lokayuktas.

The Supreme Court on March 23, 2018 sought reply from the states on why they had not appointed Lokayuktas. Besides, it has asked them to specify by when they would appoint a Lokayukta.

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