From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, May 17: A day after getting President’s accent for Goa Lokayukta Bill, State chief minister Manohar Parrikar, said that Lokayukta will start functioning in the state in next three months.

“Goa Lokayukta will be a reality in next three months,” Parrikar told reporters here on May 16. 

“Any new structure requires facilities like manpower, funding, place to set up office and others. We also need to appoint Lokayukta by a proper process,” he justified.

The Chief Minister said that the process to set up Lokayukta will begin once Governor writes to the state government about President’s accent to the Bill.

State government spokesman on Tuesday had claimed that President of india had given its accent to Goa Lokayukta Bill, 2011. Parrikar said that Governor was yet to receive any communication from New Delhi.

“Governor will write to the state law department, who will have to notify the bill to make it as an act,” Parrikar said. The bill was passed in Goa legislative assembly in October, 2011.

Goa government has decided to consult Chief Justice of Bombay High Court before appointing Lokayukta, who can be a retired judge.

The ombudsman body has a right even to prosecute chief minister, as per the bill, which was passed by then Digambar Kamat led government after thorough pressures from the civil right groups.

India Against Corruption (IAC), an outfit inspired by Gandhian Anna Hazare, had demanded that the Bill, which was passed needs to be amended further to make it more effective.

Parrikar said that any amendments in the Lokayukta Bill can be done only after six months, not soon after appointing the body. “Any amendment can be recommended only after reviewing the functioning of the body. The amendments would be done taking in confidence the sitting Lokayukta,” he commented.