Justice PK Saikia Sworn In As Chairman of State Lokayukta

Itanagar: The Pema Khandu government in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday created a history of sort by constituting the Lokayukta, headed by former Gauhati High Court Judge, Justice PK Saikia as its chairperson along with a member.

Governor Brig (retd) Dr BD Mishra administered the oath of office to Justice Saikia at a function organized in the Darbar Hall of the Raj Bhawan here in the presence of Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Cabinet Ministers, former Chief Minister Nabum Tuki, besides senior civil and police officers.

Retired IAS officer from the State Yeshi Tsering also took oath as the member of the Lokayukta on the occasion.

The State Assembly had on March 4, 2014 passed the Lokayukta Bill to pave way for establishing the Lokayukta in the State after the Parliament passed the Bill and notified on January 14, 2014. The State’s Lokayukta Bill consisting 59 clauses is a strong tool to check corruption in the State as present and past Chief Ministers including ministers, MLAs, government officers and even NGOs are under its purview.

The State Cabinet under Chief Minister Pema Khandu had on August 14, 2017 decided to set up the Lokayukta and accordingly a concrete timeline was set for making the Lokayukta functional with the Constitution of three committees – the drafting committee, the search committee and the selection committee.

The drafting committee was asked to submit comprehensive draft rules to the government within 60 days. The search committee, which had no State Government employees as members, was asked to finalize and submit a panel of names to the government within 12 weeks for appointment in the Lokayukta and the selection committee was entrusted with the responsibility to recommend the names to the Governor within 30 days from the search committee’s submission of list.

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