GOA TO WITHDRAW LOKAYUKTA BILL: SUFFERING FROM LEGAL INFIRMITY OR ENCOURAGING CORRUPTION?

PANJIM: The Goa government on Monday said that Lokayukta Bill, introduced in the state Legislative Assembly in 2003, would be withdrawn as it was suffering from "legal infirmity" and various Union ministries had raised objections.  It looks like the government of Goa is safeguarding the foreign bank accounts of the politicians of Goa.

State Law Secretary Pramod Kamat said today that withdrawal was supposed to be discussed during the recently concluded session of the Assembly. "However, on account of boycott by BJP and pandemonium in the House, the same could not be taken up," he said.

But this move to withdraw the bill seems to be in favour the widely termed corrupt politicians of Goa who could continue their money making campaign.

Kamat was addressing a brainstorming session on ‘Lokayukta: Goa's Concerns', organized by International Centre Goa at Dona Paula, near here. Justice Santosh Hegde -- Lokayukta of Karnataka and member of the Jan Lokpal Bill Drafting Committee -- was present as a special guest.

Kamat said that several central government departments had pointed out anomalies in the bill after it was referred for the consideration of President of India. "The Ministry of Law and Justice has made certain observations relating to the clause 19 of the Bill," he said.

Ministry of Personnel said that jurisdiction provisions in Goa Lokayukta Bill and Model State Vigilance Commission Bill overlapped. "Department of Legal Affairs also stated that clause 18 of the Bill appears to be contrary to the provisions of Section 22 of Right to Information (RTI) Act," Kamat said. "As the bill suffers from legal infirmity, it was decided to withdraw it," Kamat said.