The Communist Party of India (CPI) has reportedly expressed its reservations about amending the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999 in the format proposed by the government.
A meeting of the Cabinet on Tuesday fuelled speculation that CPI Ministers had objected to the amendment provision that accorded the Governor or the Chief Minister in their capacity as the “competent authority”, as the case may be, to accept or reject a ruling by the Lok Ayukta in cases of corruption, nepotism and maladministration.
Instead, the CPI has reportedly proposed a five-member independent committee to weigh Lok Ayukta rulings. It was apparently against vesting the political executive with the power to accept or reject Lok Ayukta’s orders.
