Why in the News?
The Lokpal of India, India’s central anti-corruption ombudsman, is moving forward to fill 81 approved posts on a deputation basis.
Historical Context of the Lokpal:
- Initial Proposal (1966): First proposed by the First Administrative Reforms Commission to tackle high-level corruption.
- Legislative Failures (1971–2008): Multiple Lokpal Bills introduced in Parliament but none were passed.
- Jan Lokpal Movement (2011): Nationwide agitation led by Anna Hazare demanded a powerful and independent anti-corruption body, catalyzing public and political support.
- Enactment of Law (2013): The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was passed in 2013, providing for:
- A Lokpal at the central level.
- Lokayuktas in states.
- Formal Establishment (2014): Lokpal of India was notified on January 16, 2014 under Section 3 of the Act.
- Initial Functioning: Operated with encadred staff (mostly Central Secretariat Service); became functionally active only in 2019.
- Organisational Restructuring (2024):
- Due to rising complaints and staffing gaps, a new Organogram was approved in August–September 2024.
- The Full Bench of Lokpal, using powers under Section 34, sanctioned 81 deputation posts.
- These are stop-gap until regular recruitment begins under the upcoming Service Regulations, 2024.
About Lokpal [vs. Lokayukta, A Comparative Overview]:
| Lokpal (Central) | Lokayukta (State) | |
| Legal Basis | Established under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 | Also mandated under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (Section 63); specifics vary by state |
| Jurisdiction | Covers central public servants, including the Prime Minister (with some exceptions), Ministers, MPs, and officials in Groups A–D | Handles cases involving state public servants, such as Chief Ministers, Ministers, MLAs, and state officials |
| Appointment | Appointed by the President based on recommendations of a Selection Committee (PM, LoP, CJI, jurist) | Appointed by the Governor; appointment process defined by state legislation |
| Composition | Chairperson (former CJI/SC judge/eminent person) + up to 8 members (50% from SC/ST/OBC/Women/Minorities) | Composition varies by state; usually includes a Chairperson and members with similar qualifications |
| Tenure | 5 years or until the age of 70, whichever is earlier | Defined by respective state laws |
| Salary & Removal | Chairperson = salary of CJI;
Members = salary of SC Judges; Removal by President after SC inquiry |
Modelled on Lokpal Act; removal by Governor based on state-specific processes |
| Powers |
|
|
| Recent Institutional Reform |
|
Varies across states; no uniform push for staff standardization as seen at the central level. |
| [UPSC 2025] Consider the following statements about Lokpal:
I. The power of Lokpal applies to public servants of India, but not to the Indian public servants posted outside India. II. The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a Member of the Parliament or a Member of the Legislature of any State or Union Territory, and only the Chief Justice of India, whether incumbent or retired, has to be its Chairperson. III. The Chairperson or a Member shall not be a person of less than forty-five years of age on the date of assuming office. IV. Lokpal cannot inquire into the allegations of corruption against a sitting Prime Minister of India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? Options: (a) III only* (b) II and III (c) I and IV (d) None of the above statements is correct [2013] ‘A national Lokpal, however strong it may be, cannot resolve the problems of immorality in public affairs’. Discuss. |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
