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The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, has assured to place the Goa Lokayukta Bill, 2003 on the floor of the House in the next Assembly session, even though it is riddled with several anomalies.
Mr Kamat, who is under immense pressure from Anna Hazare inspired India Against Corruption (IAC) activists, told reporters here yesterday that he would place the Bill during the next Assembly session, the dates of which are yet to be announced.
The statement of the CM, who claimed to be supportive of any attempt to curb corruption, came a few hours after several IAC activists met him at his office demanding a public statement on the status of 2003 Bill.
However, sources in the Law Ministry told PTI that it will be difficult to pass the Bill as there are several clarifications sought by the Central Government which need to be cleared.
“The Bill stands at the place where it was earlier. There are queries that need to be addressed and certain amendments to be made,” a senior official said, requesting anonymity.
The Bill has been bouncing between the Central and state governments for some time now. It was adopted by the Assembly on January 25, 2007 and sent for Governor’s assent on August 11, 2007.
It was forwarded to the Central Government to be referred to the President of India on October 12, 2007. The Central government had raised several queries on the Bill, which had forced the State Government to withdraw it subsequently.
Earlier in April this year, the State Law Secretary, Mr Pramod Kamat, had said that the Bill suffered from “legal infirmity’’.
“Several central government departments had pointed out anomalies in the Bill after it was referred for the consideration of President of India,” the Secretary had said.
The Ministry of Law and Justice has made certain observations relating to the clause 19 of the Bill. Also, according to the Ministry of Personnel, jurisdiction provisions in Goa Lokayukta Bill and Model State Vigilance Commission Bill overlapped.
The Department of Legal Affairs also stated that clause 18 of the Bill appears to be contrary to the provisions of section 22 of Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Law Secretary had said.
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