Lokayukta seeks honour, autonomy from Sheila Dikshit

Delhi lokayukta Mohammad Shamim, a former high court (HC) judge, says the Sheila Dikshit government has scant respect for the institution set up to root out corruption.

The lokayukta is equivalent to an HC judge, but the state government doesn’t show him due respect even in public.

In his report placed before the state legislative assembly recently, Shamim regretted that “no proper seat is marked for the lokayukta at state functions with the result he either has to remain standing… as happened at the swearing-in of Dikshit”.

The other alternative is to “squeeze between persons sitting on a sofa”.

The ombudsman is empowered to examine complaints of corruption by ministers, the chief minister, lawmakers, bureaucrats and municipal authorities.

Deploring the treatment meted out to the lokayukta, who is expected to be above political class and bureaucracy in order to do his job fearlessly, the report says, “This is something very bad for the honour of the office of the lokayukta.”

The former HC judge says, “The lokayukta should occupy a position just after the lieutenant governor and before the chief minister”.

The government’s rude behaviour is also reflected in the fact that the lokayukta experienced “a lot of difficulties when dealing with corruption by public functionaries”, the report says and calls for making orders of the ombudsman binding. It also seeks financial autonomy for independent functioning.