Justice Uma Nath Singh has been appointed as the first Lokayukta of Nagaland. Singh will hold office for a term of 5 (five) years from which he enters upon his office or till he attains the age of 70 years whichever is earlier.
The Lokayukta helps people publicize corruption among the Politicians and Government Officials. Many acts of the Lokayukta have resulted in criminal or other consequences for those charged.
About Justice Uma Nath Singh
Born: 15.01.1954
Education: Graduation from Ewing Christian College, Allahabad and Post Graduation in Political Science and Graduation in Law from the University of Allahabad.
Professional experience:
– Enrolled as an advocate by Bar Council, Delhi on 23rd April, 1982.
– Registered as an advocate on Record of the Supreme Court of India in March, 1987.
– Practiced in the Supreme Court of India for more than 19 years in all type of cases.
– Was a panel counsel for Railways, BHEL, MMTC and Union of India.
– Was senior panel counsel for State of Uttar Pradesh in the Supreme Court of India and for Union of India in Delhi High Court.
– Was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court of Meghalaya on 18th March, 2015.
Powers of Lokayutka:
Lokayukta investigates cases of corruption, where substantiated, recommend action. It is a great check on corruption, brings about transparency in the system, makes administrative machinery citizen friendly. His functions largely depend upon jurisdiction vested in him and facilities provided for taking cognizance of citizens’ grievances promptly, dexterously and expeditiously through simple, informal mechanism devoid of technicalities.
The range of powers vary. In, say, Delhi, the Lokayukta inquires into allegations of corruption, misuse of authority and wrong doings of public functionaries including Chief Minister, Ministers and MLAs. And civil servants/bureaucrats, judiciary, police and the Delhi Development Authority are excluded from its ambit.
In Karnataka, which in the 1980s was the first state to move to get a Lokayukta and where there has been much controversy over the teeth that the office has, the new powers promised to the Lokayukta keep the Chief Minister, ministers, MPS and MLAs out of the purview.