24 Nov : In a move to check corruption and financial irregularities, Tripura Assembly on Monday unanimously passed the much-awaited Lokayokta bill. Under the provision, the investigating agency will have to take permission from the Chief Minister before initiating investigation against any minister on graft charge.
In case the corruption charge is levelled against chief minister, the agency will have to take permission from the assembly house.After hectic parleys on the bill, the Select Committee gave its nod to lay it before the house on Friday last.
Initiating discussion on the bill, Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath expressed concern for not bringing the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) under the purview of the bill.
"I think safe passage was given to TTAADC as it’s provisions would not be applicable against Chief Executive Member (CEM) or any executive member of the tribal council," he said.
In reply, Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said, "let the bill be implemented first to maintain transparency and see whether the tribal council accepts the bill or not. But, this issue can be taken up with the ADC authority."
The TTAADC constitutes two-third of the state territory where one-third of tribals live. The tribal council was formed in 1987 to safeguard the backward tribals.
The Lokayokta bill here was formulated on lines of the Lokayata bill passed in the Parliament.