Vasundhara Raje government’s decision reversed: S S Kothari ceases to be Lokayukta

  • | Friday | 8th March, 2019

In 180 cases, the Lokayukta office had taken suo motu cognisance on the basis of news reports. Governor Kalyan Singh promulgated an amendment ordinance to the effect on Wednesday. JAIPUR: The Ashok Gehlotgovernment has reversed the previous Vasundhara Rajegovernment’s decision to extend the state Lokayukta’s term of office from five years to eight years. Kothari also probed complaints related to appointments of professors in the Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur. In more than 1,300 cases, disciplinary actions were initiated against government officials found guilty by the Lokayukta.

JAIPUR: The Ashok Gehlotgovernment has reversed the previous Vasundhara Rajegovernment’s decision to extend the state Lokayukta’s term of office from five years to eight years. Governor Kalyan Singh promulgated an amendment ordinance to the effect on Wednesday. The ordinance has amended section 5 of the Rajasthan Lokayukta and Up-Lokayuktas Act, 1973.Since the present Lokayukta, Sajjan Singh Kothari, has already completed six years in office, his term has come to an end with the amendment ordinance coming into force.Amending Section 5, the ordinance says, “The Lokayukta holding office at the commencement of the Rajasthan Lokayukta and Up-Lokayuktas (amendment) ordinance, 2019, (Ordinance No 2 of 2019) shall be deemed to have demitted that office with effect from such commencement...”Kothari, a former high court judge, was sworn in as the Lokayukta on March 25, 2013, months before the previous Gehlot-government’s tenure (2008-2013) came to an end.In March last year, just a day before Kothari’s term was to conclude, the then Raje government brought in an ordinance that extended his term of office to eight years.As Lokayukta, Kothari had probed the controversial Mathur Commission files related to alleged corruptions committed during Raje’s first tenure as chief minister (2003-2008). He also probed the alleged illegal mine allotments made under Raje’s second tenure (20013-18). Kothari disposed of more than 1,800 of the Mathur Commission files, recommending disciplinary action against 25 public servants.In the illegal mine allotment matter, the Lokayukta completed probes in nearly 1,200 of the over 1,600 files and recommended action against 38 officials, including six top public servants.Between March 2013 and March 2019, the Lokayukta office received 28,251complaints, of which all except 57 have been disposed of. This is said to be a record. In 180 cases, the Lokayukta office had taken suo motu cognisance on the basis of news reports. In more than 1,300 cases, disciplinary actions were initiated against government officials found guilty by the Lokayukta. Kothari also probed complaints related to appointments of professors in the Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur.

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