Central government in favour of a model Lokayukta law: Maharashtra state CM

Mumbai, Apr 26 (PTI) Pushing for a strong Lokayukta Act in Maharashtra, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan of the western state today said the Central Indian government is in favour of enacting a model law for an anti-corruption ombudsman so that it can be replicated by all the states. Chavan said his government was in the process of conducting comparative studies of Lokayukta (Ombudsman) Acts of various Indian states and would take a decision on enacting a legislation for Maharashtra only if provisions for ombudsmen in states are not included in the Centre's proposed Lokpal Bill. Addressing a press conference after an hour-long meeting with social activist and anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare, the chief minister said the Lokpal Bill was likely to be passed in the current Budget session of Parliament. "I feel that the Lokayukta (state level ombudsmen) aspect will not be included in the Lokpal (all-India ombudsman) Bill. I had written to Centre to enact a model law of Lokayukta so that all states can adopt their own act as per the model law," he said, adding the Centre was favourable to this proposal. "However if the model law also does not come out, we will begin the process of enacting a strong Lokayukta here," he said, adding that the state was studying the Karnataka and Uttarakhand acts, and the Jan Lokayukta draft of Hazare. Hazare said the institution of Lokayukta in Maharashtra should be an autonomous body like the Election Commission and free from government interference. When asked about his meeting with the 75-year-old Gandhian, Chavan described it as "cordial". "Anna requested me to enact a strong Lokayukta Act as the present one is toothless. According to him the existing provisions are only recommendatory and not obligatory. We broadly agree with him and feel that a strong anti corruption law is necessary," Chavan said. Chavan said he views Hazare's tour of 35 districts of the state beginning from May 1 as a mass awareness campaign and not as an agitation against government. PTI