The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption authority constituted at the state level. It investigates allegations of corruption and mal-administration against public servants and is tasked with speedy redressal of public grievances. The Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 seeks to provide for the establishment of Lokayukta for states to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.
It is amazing how this authority does not find much mention in the media in Nagaland. The Combined Technical Association of Nagaland (CTAN) has on June 1 filed an FIR at the Nagaland Lokayukta to dispense justice and deliver befitting prosecution against officials for allegedly making backdoor appointments. This is a welcome development and, regardless of the outcome, it is expected that more aggrieved parties will follow CTAN in reporting allegations of corruption to the Lokayukta.
The history of institutionalization of the Lokayukta in Nagaland is not so smooth. The Lokpal and Lokayukta’s Act was passed in the Parliament in 2013, which became law from January 16, 2014 and it required that each state appoint its Lokayukta within a year. However, Nagaland had to wait till 2017 until the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill, 2017 was passed in the Nagaland Assembly.
Even after the Nagaland Lokayukta Bill 2017 was passed by the state assembly, Nagaland did not have a Lokayukta until the Supreme Court of India intervened. Nagaland Government was recommended by the highest court to appoint its first Lokayukta within three months in February 2019. In fact, the Nagaland government was made to give an undertaking before the Supreme Court that it would appoint the state Lokayukta within three months, something that a state government cannot be proud of.
It is worthwhile to mention here that civil society organizations like Nagaland Voluntary Consumer Organization (NVCO) along with Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) were instrumental in getting the anti-corruption ombudsman in the state.
Interestingly, the anti-corruption authority in Nagaland has been marred with controversy and the Lokayukta himself, Justice Uma Nath, had to tender his resignation in February 2021 after a stormy 2-year term. Even the appointment of Upalokayukta, or Deputy Lokayukta, was not free from controversy. Be that as it may, the fact that the institution of Lokayukta exists brings a sigh of relief. It is hoped that the CTAN’s latest appeal will be taken up in all earnestness and justice delivered.
No notable corruption cases have been disposed off by the Nagaland Lokayukta till date. Even if there has been any, the numbers are just too insignificant. One of the reasons why the Lokayukta has not been as effective as one would have expected it to be is because of the people’s lack of awareness, perhaps. People talk about corruption but seldom do they do anything about it. All talks, no action. Corruption thrives.