Decade after Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act enacted, anti-corruption ombudsman notifies prosecution wing | India News
NEW DELHI: More than a decade after the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act was enacted, the anti-corruption ombudsman for probing corruption complaints against public servants, has notified the constitution of its prosecution wing.The Lokpal’s mandate is to inquire into the allegations of graft against specified public functionaries and all connected matters. Section 12 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 obligates the Lokpal to constitute a prosecution wing for the purpose of prosecution of public servants in relation to any complaint by the Lokpal under this Act, through a notification.The full Bench of the Lokpal had, in its meeting dated 13.09.2024, approved the organogram providing for the staffing pattern and specified number of suitable officers and staff, including for the prosecution wing, making it a part of the judicial wing.Further, the Bench in its meeting dated 30.08.2024, decided to constitute both the inquiry and prosecution wing of the Lokpal and authorized the chairperson to take such steps as may be necessary.“However, at that time, considering the limited number of prosecution cases referred by the Lokpal, it was decided to initially constitute only the inquiry wing. Now, in the evolving scenario, as there has been an increase in the number of prosecution cases including ready for directing prosecution, the full bench vide its Resolution dated 05.06.2025, has decided to make the prosecution wing in Lokpal functional by going ahead with its own selection process for appointment of officers on deputation basis in the first place,” the order issued by Lokpal on June 6 had stated.
