UP brings Lokayukta out of RTI
1 Aug 2012 7:27 AM IST
In a major decision, Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday decided to place the office of the Lokayukta out of the purview of the RTI Act. Besides, it also renamed Kanshiram Urdu Arabic Persion University, set up by the previous Mayawati government, after Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti.
Fulfilling the poll promises, the government also sanctioned Rs 30,000 each to the poor girls in the state who have cleared intermediate examinations under Kanya Vidyadhan. These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting here.
State Urban Development Minister Mohammad Azam Khan, talking to media persons here after the cabinet meeting, said as the Lokayukta has judical powers hence there was no need for bringing him under the perview of the RTI Act 2005.
‘How can a person work independently if he faced with RTI questions frequently,’ Khan said while defending the decision of the government to place the office of the Lokayukta
out of the purview of the RTI Act.
Meanwhile, sources said the government is of the view that the office of the Lokayukta is an investigating agency and, therefore, there is a need to maintain secrecy in its investigation of corruption cases. A disclosure can adversely affect the course of the investigation, the government believes.
In the election manifesto, the Samajwadi Party had promised to take steps to strengthen the Lokayukta.
In particular, it had promised to make it a multi-member body and place the economic offences wing of the police under it. So far, it has done neither.
Fulfilling the poll promises, the government also sanctioned Rs 30,000 each to the poor girls in the state who have cleared intermediate examinations under Kanya Vidyadhan. These decisions were taken in the cabinet meeting here.
State Urban Development Minister Mohammad Azam Khan, talking to media persons here after the cabinet meeting, said as the Lokayukta has judical powers hence there was no need for bringing him under the perview of the RTI Act 2005.
‘How can a person work independently if he faced with RTI questions frequently,’ Khan said while defending the decision of the government to place the office of the Lokayukta
out of the purview of the RTI Act.
Meanwhile, sources said the government is of the view that the office of the Lokayukta is an investigating agency and, therefore, there is a need to maintain secrecy in its investigation of corruption cases. A disclosure can adversely affect the course of the investigation, the government believes.
In the election manifesto, the Samajwadi Party had promised to take steps to strengthen the Lokayukta.
In particular, it had promised to make it a multi-member body and place the economic offences wing of the police under it. So far, it has done neither.
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