Patna:
In a landmark legislation aimed at combating corruption in public life, the state assembly on Thursday passed by voice vote the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011, for constitution of a strong and effective Lokayukta in the state bringing within its ambit the office of the chief minister, ministers and officials down to the lowest rung.
The Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary put the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011 for the voting by the members who passed the historic legislation by a voice voice.
Earlier participating in the debate, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged the members to back the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011, wholeheartedly to help change public perceptions about the political class and restore their faith in the political system.
"Let all of us put ourselves to scrutiny by the Lokayukta as we have nothing to fear about," he said in a tone of reassurance to the fellow lawmakers.
"The constitution of Lokayukta will help change (positively) public perception about the political class as the parliamentary democracy is the best political system in my view," Kumar said.
The Chief Minister strongly defended the provisions of the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011, saying that contours of the proposed law was consistent with the state government's "zero tolerance" policy towards corruption in public life.
Describing the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011 as "unique", "strong" and "effective", Kumar urged the Centre to incorporate its provisions in the Lokpal bill if the central legislation also intended to cover the Lokayukta under the proposed central legislation.
Outlining the contours of the bill, the Chief Minister said that the bill was not only a strong institution of Lokayukta has been proposed, but it has been given unrestricted power to get corruption charges against public servants probed and prosecuted to its logical conclusion.
The Chief Minister added that selection and search committees too have eminent people in public life on the panel, who are empowered to take decisions in a time-bound manner. Selection and identification of eligible candidates of unimpeachable character and integrity is underway to grace the office of the Lokayukta as its chairman and members.
The state government has deliberately kept out the executive in the process of search and selection of suitable candidates as Lokayukta to avoid criticism in this regard, Kumar said.
Responding to the opposition's charge that the state government is rushing through the Bihar Lokayukta Bill, 2011, the Chief Minister said that he had made a commitment to the people to bring such a legislation in this calendar year and he has delivered as much.
"I don't need the permission of anyone to carry out legislative business as the people have elected my government to discharge duties in the best interests of the state and its people," he said.