BHUBANESWAR: The Congress on Tuesday came down heavily on the State Government for not filling up posts of chairpersons of several important organisations and not setting up the Lokayukta, thereby depriving people of getting quick justice.
Initiating debate on supplementary demand for grants of the Home department, Leader of the Opposition Narasingh Mishra said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had promised to make Odisha Lokayukta functional within six months. “Though more than six months have passed since the President gave his assent to Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014, the body is yet to be constituted,” he said. Mishra alleged that posts like chairpersons of Human Rights Commission and Information Commission remained vacant. “Here is a Chief Minister and his Government who does not respect the law, the Opposition or the directives of the Supreme Court,” Mishra said.
The Leader of the Opposition said Lokayukta is appointed to enable people to approach it on corruption cases with less expenses and quick justice. But, that is not happening as the State Government has not appointed the Lokayukta, he said.
He also raised questions on appointment of the Director General of Police (DGP), fate of the Special Court, Vigilance probe into the mining scam and the State Government’s inaction on land scam. “Whoever dances to the tune of 3rd floor (CMO) gets the prize posting of DGP,” he said. The Congress leader alleged that the State Government violated guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in its proposal for forming the State Security Commission contained in the Odisha Police Bill. Though the guidelines stated that the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly should be a member of the Commission, the State Government did not adhere to the proposal in the Bill which was passed in the House in the absence of the Opposition. Governor SC Jamir returned the Bill with several suggestions without giving assent to it.
Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati criticised the Government for the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation in the State. The number of crime against women has increased despite the claims by State Government, he said.