As a symbol of good governance, Goa needs an effective Lokayukta
Fourteen years ago, when the anti-corruption campaign led by Anna Hazare impacted the country, the ripples were felt in Goa too. BJP leaders, with their karyakartas, were proactive in the movement “to cleanse the system of corruption”. They also pushed for a mechanism to curb corruption besides calling for a corruption-free government at the state level. One demand that echoed across India was the institution of a Lokayukta.
In 2011, then chief minister Digambar Kamat got the Goa Lokayukta Bill, 2011, passed in the assembly in October that year, but the assent to it was delayed. In the run-up to the 2012 assembly elections, BJP promised a Lokayukta within 100 days of coming to power, and Manohar Parrikar led the party to power with 21 seats. In May 2012, the President gave assent to the Goa Lokayukta Bill, 2011. Accordingly, Supreme Court Judge B Sudarshan Reddy was appointed as Goa’s first Lokayukta in October 2013. Seven months later, he resigned, citing personal reasons, and for the next two-and-a-half years, the post remained vacant.
Retired Chief Justice of Bihar High Court PK Misra was appointed as the Lokayukta in April 2016. He passed several orders, and at the end of his four-and-a-half-year tenure, Misra said his innings was challenging and fruitful.
While submitting his report to the governor, Misra pointed out that Goa Lokayukta needed more teeth to punish the corrupt. Unfortunately, despite much hype about appointing the Lokayukta, the legislation, unlike Karnataka, didn’t have the provision to prosecute the guilty. The Lokayukta could pass orders, but it was not mandatory on the part of the government to go by them. In other words, they were only recommendatory in nature.
Misra suggested that, as in Karnataka and Kerala, Goa Lokayukta should have powers to prosecute. Goa Lokayukta also doesn’t have the power to punish under the Contempt of Courts Act. He found several politicians and bureaucrats guilty of corruption. On a complaint filed by a then-opposition MLA who is now a cabinet minister, the Lokayukta had passed an order against the then tourism minister on the “beach cleaning scam”. However, the government didn’t act on even one of the 21 reports (orders) that Misra submitted. He had also passed orders against two MLAs for disproportionate assets. Finding the system corroded and unable to take the findings to the logical conclusion, he reportedly said, “Only God can save the state.” Justice Ambada Joshi was the next Lokayukta. While highlighting that the number of complaints filed had reduced since May 2022 reportedly due to a change in procedure for filing cases, The Navhind Times reported nearly a month ago that the post of Lokayukta has been vacant since December 16, 2024. The process, however, has started to appoint a new Lokayukta, and it is not clear how long it will take.
The question is: Why is there a delay every time in appointing a new Lokayukta? It only serves to diminish the government’s image. The absence of a Lokayukta is a serious concern that undermines transparency, accountability and good governance. BJP’s meteoric rise in Goa was based on anti-corruption campaigns in the 90s, and it came to power on the same plank. Parrikar had always said that “zero tolerance towards corruption” was his government’s main agenda.
Goa needs a Lokayukta, and the government must amend the Lokayukta Act to give the ombudsman more teeth. This will help improve BJP’s image.
