Agartala, Feb 19 ( TIWN): Tripura passed Lokayukta Bill ( second amendment ), 2015 in Vidhan Sabha unanimously on Wednesday amid stiff opposition from the Congress Party.

The Lokayukta started functioning from 16 December, 2011 under the chairmanship of retired high court  judge Pradip Sarkar. According to law, the tenure of chairman is  for three years, the amendment was necessary for reappointment.

Opposition leader Sudip Roy Barman and Congress MLA raised objection against the amendment. When the bill was introduced in assembly, Nath raised objection stating the Lokayukta is toothless and has no role to play against corruption. He said that TTAADC covers 68 percent of the area, Lokayukta should be amended to bring TTAADC under its armbit.

Nath  said   not a single  annual report was submitted in last three years, even though  its is categorically mentioned Lokayukta should submit the annual report annually. In last three years, eighteen complain was registered and after investigation the state government was directed to take action against seven complain. No action was taken. According to him the present chairman is only a rubber stamp of the state government.                      

Justifying the need for amending thebill, Chief Minister  Manik Sarkar said we cannot run away from reality,by the amendment we are just preventing the chair from remaining vacant . He asked the opposition  for suggestions  for strengthening the Lokayukta.

The Lokayukta  is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in the Indian states.The LokAyukta, along with the Income Tax Department and the Anti Corruption Bureau, mainly helps people publicize corruption among the Politicians and GovernmentOfficials.