Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta Explained

Agencyname:Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta
Formed:1983
Country:India
Federal:No
Headquarters:Institution of Lokayukta, H.No.96/3-72-124-1, PRASAD'S COMPLEX, Santosh nagar, Kurnool -518006.
Chief1name:Hon’ble Mr. Justice P Lakshmana Reddy.

- Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta is formed as the parliamentary ombudsman by the Government of Andhra Pradesh under the Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 83. Its institution acts as the high-level statutory functionary for the state of Andhra Pradesh and created independent of the governing political and public administration to address the public grievances against the state government and its administration. It came into force with effect from 1 November'83. It functions as a public instrument against corruption and other malpractices by public servants and government authorities of the state.

A Lokayukta of the state is appointed to office by the state Governor after consulting the committee consisting of State Chief Minister, Speaker of Legislative Assembly, Leader of Opposition, Chairman of Legislative Council and Leader of Opposition of Legislative Council and will serve the period of five years.

History and administration

The institution of Lokayukta has been set up in the state of Andhra Pradesh in 1983.[1] through its Lokayukta Act.

In 2014 Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated into two states, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.[2]

The Assembly of the new state of Andhra Pradesh approved that in addition to only serving Chief Justices or sitting judges even retired Chief Justices or retired Justices can be considered to be eligible for appointment for the position as the State Lokayukta. This was done by passing the amended Andhra Pradesh Lokayukta Amendment Bill,2019.[3]

Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh is administered by its Registrar who is also its head of department. Its administrative system has four branches, namely Administration, Judicial, Legal and Investigation.

The state Lokayukta is currently operating from the Government Building situated in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 cases, the Lokayukta of Andhra Pradesh asked the petitioners and government employees to submit petitions, reports online or by post.[4]

Notable cases

Appointments and tenure

The Governor of the state appointed Justice P Lakshmana Reddy as the first Lokayukta of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh on 15 September 2019.[8]

Following is the list and tenure of various Lokayuktas of the state:[9]

Index Name Holding charge from Holding charge to
1Justice Mr.A. Avula Sambasiva Rao 14.11.1983 13.11.1988 
2Justice Mr.A. Seetharam Reddy 12.03.1990 11.03.1995
3Justice Mr.D.J. Jagannadha Raju 11.05.1995 10.05.2000 
4Justice R. Ramanujam12.07.2002 11.07.2007 
5Justice S. Ananda Reddy12.10.2007 11.10.2012 
6Justice B. Subhashan Reddy 12.10.201211.10.2017 
7Justice P. Laxman Reddy [10] 15.09.2019Present

Powers

The institution has powers to investigate and prosecute any government official or public servants who are covered by the act and abuses his authority for his self interest or causes hurt to anyone or any action done intentionally or following corrupt practices negatively impacting the state or individual[11]

Related articles

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

Goa Lokayukta

Delhi Lokayukta Chhattisgarh Lokayog

Gujarat Lokayukta

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Seetharaman . G . Delay in appointment of Lokpal & Lokayukta: Who will bell the graft? . 19 August 2021 . The Economic Times . 10 November 2018.
  2. News: How Telangana demand led to bifurcation . 19 August 2021 . The Indian Express . 9 March 2018 . en.
  3. News: Andhra Pradesh Assembly Passes Judicial Commission Bill to Bring Transparency in Govt Tenders . 26 July 2021 . News18 . 26 July 2019 . en.
  4. Web site: Submit petitions, reports by online or post: Lokayukta to officials. 2021-09-29. The New Indian Express. 31 March 2021 .
  5. News: Lokayukta orders crackdown on cooperative loan mafia in Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad News - Times of India . 16 August 2021 . The Times of India . 21 April 2021 . en.
  6. News: Andhra Lokayukta questions state support to 'fish medicine' . 18 August 2021 . Business Standard India . 3 June 2013.
  7. News: Rs 20 cr swindled in AP through fake aliases Hyderabad News - Times of India . 18 August 2021 . The Times of India . 1 August 2021 . en.
  8. News: Andhra Lokayukta receives 448 complaints within 2 weeks of new chief's swearing-in . 14 August 2021 . The News Minute . 6 October 2019 . en.
  9. Web site: Former Lokayuktas . lokayukta.telangana.gov.in . 21 August 2021 . 21 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210821150323/http://lokayukta.telangana.gov.in/Former%20Lokayuktas.pdf . dead .
  10. News: The Hindu . Justice Lakshman Reddy sworn in as Lokayukta . 29 August 2021 . 16 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210829144746/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/justice-lakshman-reddy-sworn-in-as-lokayukta/article29425975.ece . 29 August 2021 . en-IN.
  11. Web site: About Institution . www.lokayukta.ap.nic.in . 12 August 2021 . 5 May 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200505003704/http://www.lokayukta.ap.nic.in/about-institution.html . dead .