Direction of Lokayukta ignored by Dept. of Panchayat Raj, Govt. of Odisha

 

Direction  of  Lokayukta, Odisha  is undermined , ignored  and bypassed by  Govt. of Odisha and  Corrupt  Public Servants  well-protected by Nabin Patnaik Govt.

 

Lokayukta, Odisha maintained ominous silence when the issue of non-compliance of  its  direction is raised.

 

Case Study-2

 

As  envisaged, the mandate  of the Lokayukta, Odisha  under  Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014  is  to inquire into allegation of corruption against   Public servants  and Public authorities  and  prosecute  them  as per law. While  inquiring  into  the  allegation of the  corruption,  the Lokayukta  is empowered to issue  appropriate  direction to  the  competent  authorities  to initiate  disciplinary proceedings  against  the  public servants .  Within one  and half  years of its  functioning, the  Odisha Lokayukta  has  given   direction   in so many cases  to the competent  authority  to take  legal action against  the   corrupt  public  servants. But  the  competent  authorities  under Govt. of Odisha  are  not  only  dilly-dallying  with  this  order  but  simply  ignored  the  order  of the  Lokayukta   without  taking  any  action against  corrupt  officials for  years  together. Lokayukta, Odisha washes  its   hand  just  passing  order  without  monitoring whether  its  order  implemented  or enforced.  Corrupt officials are seen protected by Govt.  of Odisha.  We  honestly  feel that  if this  trend  continues,   the  ethos  of  Lokayukta Law will  be  in jeopardy  and  the  institution of Lokayukta will be  redundant  in the  coming  days.

 

I  present  herewith   a Case  Study ( LY Case No.- 431/2019 )  about  how  Dept. of   Panchayat Raj  and Drinking Water, Govt. of Odisha defied , ignored  the  order  of Lokayukta  and denied  to  release  pending  amount Rs. 55,000.00  to  a poor beneficiary against construction of IAY  house.

 

Date	Details of  Cases  and order  of Lokayukta, Odisha
October, 2019	Sunia Samantaray/ Jhuni Samantaray , at-Udayapur, Post-Berboi, Dist- Puri   filed  a complaint  before  Lokayukta, Odisha   alleging that that  he was  allotted  a IAY  house  in 2013  and released 1st  installment for  construction of the house. He  completed  the  house  and applied  for  2nd  installment  in  Berboi Gram Panchayat . The  Panchayat Executive officer demanded  Rs. 5,000.00 as bribe for  release  of 2nd instalment.  As he is poor, he could not give bribe , rather  completed  house  taking all pains.  In 2016, he  requested Sarapanch  for  release  of all  money  and continued  to visit  GP office  and Block  office  to get  the money  released.  But  the  officials  did not  release the  money.  Lokayukta, Odisha  considered  his  complaint and issued  notice  to BDO, Delang  to file  response and appear  in person  for  next  hearing  fixed 6.1.20
6.1.20	The BDO, Delang submitted before Lokayukta, that the allegation of demanding bribe is not fact.  He  said that  as the beneficiary  could not  complete  the  house  under IAY within  stipulated  time  period, the amount  sanctioned  was  returned to Govt. According to him,  since  the construction of house  has been  completed, a request has been made  to the Govt. for  release  of remaining amount  of Rs. 55,000.00  in favour  of  complainant  and the same  shall be  paid to him, the moment  it  is received. In view  of  submission made by BDO,  Delang, the Lokayukta recommended  for  early  release  of fund  to the  complainant by the Secretary, Dept. of panchayat Raj, Odisha  through BDO, Delang.
25.8.20	As the money was not released to him, Sunia Samantaray again approached Lokayukta, Odisha   alleging non-compliance of order of Lokayukta and approached Lokayukta for  taking action  in this matter.  Lokayukta  did  not  reopen  the case till today.
Final Result	Though one year passed, the beneficiary was not  released money  despite order of Likayukta, Odisha. The beneficiary is still waiting  to get justice from Lokayukta, Odisha

 Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482  

On behalf  of Sunia Samantaray

Date-19.11.20

Direction of Lokayukta, Odisha undermined by Odisha Govt.-1

 

Direction  of  Lokayukta, Odisha  is undermined , ignored  and bypassed by  Govt. of Odisha and  Corrupt  Public Servants  well-protected by Nabin Patnaik Govt.

 

Lokayukta, Odisha maintained ominous silence when the issue of non-compliance of  its  direction is raised.

 

Case Study-1

 

As  envisaged, the mandate  of the Lokayukta, Odisha  under  Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014  is  to inquire into allegation of corruption against   Public servants  and Public authorities  and  prosecute  them  as per law. While  inquiring  into  the  allegation of the  corruption,  the Lokayukta  is empowered to issue  appropriate  direction to  the  competent  authorities  to initiate  disciplinary proceedings  against  the  public servants .  Within one  and half  years of its  functioning, the  Odisha Lokayukta  has  given   direction   in so many cases  to the competent  authority  to take  legal action against  the   corrupt  public  servants. But  the  competent  authorities  under Govt. of Odisha  are  not  only  dilly-dallying  with  this  order  but  simply  ignored  the  order  of the  Lokayukta   without  taking  any  action against  corrupt  officials for  years  together. Lokayukta, Odisha washes  its   hand  just  passing  order  without  monitoring whether  its  order  implemented  or enforced.  Corrupt officials are seen protected by Govt.  of Odisha.  We  honestly  feel that  if this  trend  continues,   the  ethos  of  Lokayukta Law will  be  in jeopardy  and  the  institution of Lokayukta will be  redundant  in the  coming  days.

 

I  present  herewith   a case  study ( LY Case No.- 301/2019 )  about  how a Sarapanch, though found guilty  by the Lokayukta is  still  protected  by  Minister for  Panchayat Raj  and Drinking Water, Govt. of Odisha.

 

Chronology of the Case ( LY Case No.- 301/2019 )  filed, heard, disposed by the Lokayukta, Odisha

SL.No.	Date	Subject matter
1	4.9.19	A  complaint  was  filed ( by Pradip Pradhan, M-9937843482)   before  Lokayukta, Odisha  seeking  an  inquiry  into  serious irregularities , corruption and misappropriation  of Rs. 8 lakh in the  development  work  undertaken by the Sarapanch  and panchayat Executive Officer  of Anlo Gram Panchayat and  non-deposit of the weekly hat  collection amount under Niali  Block  of Cuttack  district
2	21.9.19	Taking  cognizance  of the  Case LY  No. 301/2019, Lokayukta, Odisha  issued  notice  to the  Collector, Cuttack  to file  response.
3	22.12.19	Acting  on  the inquiry  report of SDPO, Cuttack , the  Collector, Cuttack  vide letter No. 1220/GP addressed to the  Director, Panchayat Raj & DW   recommended  for  initiation of  disciplinary  proceedings  against  Snigdha Mohanty,  Sarapanch,  Anlo GP  under  section 115  of  the  Odisha Gram Panchayat Act.  The inquiry  report  was  submitted in the  office  of Lokayukta.
4	31.12.19	While   considering  the  inquiry  report The  Lokayukta called  for  comments from  the Collector, Cuttack  as to whay  immediate action is proposed  to be  taken  against  Sarapanch, Anlo GP   and  directed  to Govt.  to complete  the  inquiry  within 3  months.
5	27.1.20	The  Govt.  in dept. of  Panchayat Raj  issued  letter  for  suspension  of Sarapanch  by framing  charges  on various  points.
6	1.2.20	BDO, Niali GP  passed order  under Rule 21 (2) of the GP Manual  to take over  the charge  of Sarapanch by the Niali Sarapanch.
7	14.2.20	Mrs. Signdha Mohanty, suspended Sarapanch  filed  the case   WPC 5258 /20   in High Court  challenging  suspension order  of the Govt. On 14.2.20, the  High Court  passed   order  of status quo  and did  not  pass  any order on  suspension  of Sarapanch. Naib Sarapanch  continues  as  Sarapanch  in Anlo GP.
8	29.5.20	Astonishingly, Govt. issued  order  no. 8883  to reinstate  Sarapanch by withdrawing  the  suspension  without  completing the   inquiry into allegation of corruption again Sarapanch.  Sarapanch took over  charge  in Anlo Gram Panchayat.
9	18.6.20	The  Lokayukta passed order on revocation  on the following  observation: (a)  We failed  to understand how the  revocation order  passed when  there is serious allegation  of financial irregularities. (b) Accordingly order passed  for  personal appearance  of the Addl. Secretary  with  records  and to file  show cause  the ground  of revocation.
10	16.7.20	Govt. of Odisha in the  Panchayat Raj Dept.  filed  the  show cause  on the  following points (a)    Felt to be a fit case to lift suspension  on the  delinquent  Sarapanch  in the  interest of public  of Grama . (b)   Sarapanch played in key role  in the GP  to manage COVID 19  PANDEMIC.  This argument did not  satisfy  the Lokayukat Bench during hearing. But the Dept. did not complete  the  inquiry , though  around one year passed  even after order of the lokayukta.
11	16.9.20	The  complainant  filed  the  objection  in the Lokayukta  and  prayed  for  action against  Sarapanch  and Panchayat Executive Officer  and  recovery  of the amount.
12	13.10.20	The  Lokayukta  passed the  final order Directing  the  Secretary and the Addl. Secretary, Dept. of Panchayat Raj  to immediately  re-visit  the  order passed  on 29.5.20 and pass  a freshed  reasoned  order  as per law , by also taking  into account  of the order dt. 14.2.20  of the hon’ble High Court passed  in WP ( C) 5258 /20.  Recommended to Director, Dept. of Panchayat Raj  , with  changed  situation now after lifting  of lockdown , he must  endeavor to conclude the proceedings intiated  against Smt. Signdha Mohanty  within 3 month from today.
13	19.11.20	The Govt. is yet  to take  any  action against Sarapanch , Anlo GP  and the  order  of the Lokayukta is gathering dust  in the Panchayat Raj Dept.

 

Pradip Pradhan

M-9937843482

Date- 19.11.20

( Presented  in Press Meet  organized  by OSAA  in Bhubaneswar  dt. 19.11.20 )