The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has given approval to amendments to the Lokayukta Act. The amendments will bring Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers and several State-appointed officials under the purview of the anti-corruption watchdog. The amendment bill, was passed on Thursday evening. It has expanded the scope of the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2023, and removes ambiguities flagged earlier by the President’s office. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis moved the amendments. The amendment makes it clear that IAS officers appointed by the State on authorities created under Central Acts will also come under the Lokayukta. This will remove the existing ambiguity, Fadnavis added.

 

The officers appointed by the State Government to various boards, authorities and committees established under Parliamentary Acts will now be covered. Earlier, there were confusions about whether such authorities fell under the jurisdiction of the Lokayukta or the Lokpal. The confusion has been removed as the amendments will include only those authorities appointed by the State under Central Acts. Those appointed solely by the Union Government, come under the Lokpal’s mandate, will not be covered under Lokayukta.

 

The bill also updates references to repealed Central Acts, replacing the Indian Penal Code with the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and similar updated statutes. Fadnavis explained, “They were drafted based on inputs from the President’s office and that the revised legislation does not need to be sent back for further approval. The original Act, passed during the previous Government, requires a two-thirds majority in the Assembly to allow an inquiry against a present or former Chief Minister. Similar approvals from the Governor, a group of ministers, the Council Chairperson or the Assembly Speaker are mandated for probes against ministers and legislators. Even for investigating Municipal Corporators or Sarpanchs, the Lokayukta must seek consent from the minister concerned.