Thaindian News

Patna, Dec 7 (IANS) The Bihar assembly Wednesday passed a bill for setting up a three-member Lokayukta with jurisdiction to probe corruption charges against public servants from the chief minister down to lowest rung of state employees.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar described the bill as strong and effective to check corruption in the state but opposition termed it weak.

“The Bihar Lokayukta Bill is unique, strong and effective. The central government should incorporate its provisions in the Lokpal bill if the central legislation also intends to cover the Lokayuktas under the proposed central legislation,” Nitish Kumar said.

Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary put the bill for voting, amid demand by opposition members for more debate on the legislation. The bill was passed by voice vote.

Nitish Kumar reiterated that the Bihar government led by him had already initiated several measures to fight corruption. “The Right to Service Act was enforced last month to check corruption and to provide relief to people in the state,” he said.

He claimed that Bihar has emerged as a model state in the country after his government’s bid for transparency was being emulated by other states and the country, and cited the example of mandatory annual declaration of assets by ministers and government employees.