File Photo of President Pranab Mukherjee. (Press Trust of India)
President Pranab Mukherjee approved the Odisha Lokayukta Bill on Wednesday, making Odisha the first state to have such legislation.
The Bill, which was passed last February in the state Assembly, has now become an Act after the President's approval.
Under the provisions of the Act, the incumbent Chief Minister, former Chief Ministers, public servants, NGOs, contractors (firms and persons) dealing with government money, will come under purview of a six-member panel.
The panel would be selected by a committee headed by the Chief Minister and would include Leader of Opposition, Chief Justice of Odisha High Court or a judge nominated by the Chief Justice and a jurist appointed by the Governor.
The Lokayukta would be headed by a Chairman who would be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the selection committee.
The Chairman would either be a sitting or a retired High Court judge.
The other members would include atleast two judicial members, women, scheduled caste, scheduled tribe or minority.