THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The subject committee of Kerala assembly that considered the Lok Ayukta Amendment Bill is learnt to have made changes in the bill with regard to the governor’s powers in taking a decision on Lok Ayukta reports against the chief minister.
The committee is learnt to have changed the provision in such a way that the competent authority to take a decision on the findings of the Lok Ayukta against the CM will now be the assembly. It is learnt that a decision on who would be the appellate authority if the Lok Ayukta findings are against a public servant has not been taken yet. A final call on this will be taken before the bill is considered by the assembly again.
While the CM can take a call on the decisions regarding the findings against ministers, with regard to the MLAs, the speaker is the deciding authority. The opposition members are learnt to have taken a strong position against the changes made by the panel.
The committee is learnt to have changed the provision in such a way that the competent authority to take a decision on the findings of the Lok Ayukta against the CM will now be the assembly. It is learnt that a decision on who would be the appellate authority if the Lok Ayukta findings are against a public servant has not been taken yet. A final call on this will be taken before the bill is considered by the assembly again.
While the CM can take a call on the decisions regarding the findings against ministers, with regard to the MLAs, the speaker is the deciding authority. The opposition members are learnt to have taken a strong position against the changes made by the panel.