‘Strengthen institutions of Lokpal, Lokayukta’

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, March 25

The Centre for Law of the Central University of Punjab (CUP) organised a lecture on Lokpal here today.

The Lokpal of Punjab and former Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court, Justice SK Mittal, shared his ideas on the institution of Lokpal and Lokayukta.

Prof RK Kohli, Vice-Chancellor, CUP; Bar president Ranjit Singh Jalal; senior advocates and bar functionaries; members of various NGOs, retired teachers and social workers from the civil society; and students of different schools and colleges of Bathinda were also present during the lecture.

VC Kohli applauded the efforts of Justice Mittal in making efforts for progressive and corruption-free society and judicial system. While talking about corruption in his special lecture,

Justice SK Mittal said, “The rank of India as per the Corruption Perception Index is 79 among 176 countries. That is why institutions such as Lokpal and Lokayukta have been introduced by the government. The aim of these institutions is to weed out corruption. States have their own Lokpal Acts and therefore different powers have been rendered to these.”

Justice Mittal stated that not only the Lokpal and Lokayukta, but there were certain other methods such as firm deterrence, strong press, RTI Act, good governance, strong integrity of public servants, independent and effective judicial system to deal with corruption.

He further added, “The institutions of Lokpal and Lokayukta need to be strengthened through amendments in their Act. There is a greater need to make the society aware of these institutions for eradicating corruption out of it.”

An interactive session was also held at the end of the lecture, in which various professionals and other participants from the civil society interacted with the Lokpal to satiate their queries to make corruption-free India.

While proposing the vote of thanks, Prof P Ramarao, Dean, CUP, said “There is a need for speedy justice as the justice delayed is justice denied. Miss-use of powers by the public functionaries is still a problem persisting in the society.”