Dehra Dun : In what is being seen in political circles here as a gimmick to send the message that his government is for zero tolerance towards corruption, chief minister Maj Gen (retd) B C Khanduri has decided to hold a two-day session of the Uttarakhand vidhan sabha from Oct 31, to pass a more meaningful and stringent Lokpal Bill.
The proposed new Lokpal Bill (the state already has a Lokayukta) will not only bring the chief minister also within the purview of the Lokpal, but will also empower the Lokayukta to recommend suitable or exemplary punishment in matters where corrupt acts or corruption by the guilty has been proved. The Bill is likly to be passed unanimously by the House.
Members of Team Anna met the Uttarakhand chief minister during the latter’s recent stay in Delhi where the issue of the Lokpal Bill to be passed by the Uttarakhand assembly was discussed at length. It was here that Khanduri agreed to include the recommendations and suggestions that Team Anna had to make in the Bill, which would also send a message to other states of the country.
Besides the chief minister, the gram pradhans of the various gram panchayats, vice chancellors, registrars and other officials of the state-run Universities and chairman, members anf other officials of the state services commission, will also come within the purview of the Lokpal.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
