: Kerala governor approves ordinance to amend Lokayuka Act, Congress criticises decision #IndiaNEWS Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday approved a contentious ordinance that curbs the powers

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Kerala governor approves ordinance to amend Lokayuka Act, Congress criticises decision #IndiaNEWS
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Monday approved a contentious ordinance that curbs the powers of the state Lokayukta, The Indian Express reported.The ordinance amends the Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999, to allow the state government to “either accept or reject the verdict of the Lokayukta after an opportunity of being heard�.The Lokayuka is appointed by the governor of a state to address complaints about working of the government and public servants.Section 14 of the original Act mandates a public servant to leave office if the Lokayukta gives such a direction. The amendment means that a verdict of the Lokayukta will be of the nature of a recommendation, rather than being a binding decision.Khan cleared the ordinance a day after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan explained to him the rationale for the ordinance in a meeting, PTI reported.The Kerala government has argued that the original provision denied natural justice, as there was no provision for an appeal. The government has also cited two High Court judgements that have held that the Lokayukta’s jurisdiction involves making recommendations, rather than passing verdicts that have to be followed mandatorily.Meanwhile, Kerala’s Leader of Opposition and Congress MLA VD Satheesan alleged that the governor and the state government have reached a pact to sign the ordinance, The New Indian Express reported.Satheeshan claimed...Read more

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