Mumbai: Despite promising to appoint a Upa Lokayukta and making governance more transparent early this year after the civic polls, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is yet to appoint one. According to sources from the Lokayukta office, there is no proposal from the government as yet on this. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders clarified that the CM does not a confrontation with the Shiv Sena, which has been opposing the appointment, since it fears that it could be misused to bring the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)’s working under its scanner.
The Lokayukta’s office receives around 6,000 cases every year, all which are handled by just two officials: the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta. The office entertains complaints of corruption against all public officials beginning from low-level revenue officers to ministers.
The CM stressed on the issue of transparency during the civic polls and the BJP attacked the Sena for corruption in the BMC. Mr Fadnavis had declared that an Upa Lokayukta would be appointed right after the elections, especially to deal with corruption cases from Mumbai.
Currently, the Lokayukta Rtd Justice M. L. Tahliyani and Upa Lokayukta Dr S. K. Sharma handle day to day cases and complaints. They receive more than 6,000 cases per year across the state and the number has been steadily increasing in the last 3-4 years because people are getting justice speedily. Complaints include issues like pension, land issues, corruption by Talathi level junior employees of revenue department and go right up to minister level, sources told this paper.
So an overburdened Lokayukta office needs a Upa Lokayukta. People across the state have to come to Mumbai to file their cases, though the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta do visit Nagpur and Aurangabad a few times for Lok Adalat. But CM Fadnavis or the state government has not sent any proposal to Lokayukta office till now, said sources. The CM may not be willing to disturb the Sena or party president Uddhav Thackray, added sources.
Important cases with watchdog
- Housing Minister Prakash Mehta’s enquiry
- Manish Bhangale’s allegations against ex-minister Ekanath Khadse
- Sanjay Nirupam’s complaint against MOS Ravindra Waikar
