Lokayukta too irked by lax officials

At a high-level meeting of top bureaucrats, Joshi had strongly criticised them for their indifferent attitude in implementing the policies and plans formulated by the alliance government.

The Lokayukta’s office too met with the same indifference when reports were called from the public servants. By and large, the correspondence was not attended to and reports were not received for months and some times for years together despite reminders being issued to them, the Lokayukta haspointed out.

"Such erring bureaucrats conveniently forget the directions of the State Government that an inquiry made by the Lokayukta’s office should be treated as if it is an Assembly or Council question and attended to with the same promptness," the report states.

Despite the fact that there are clear orders of the State Government for the top bureaucrats to attend Lokayukta’s hearing, there is an increasing tendency among them to remain absent. On occasions, when the bureaucrats reluctantly appear for the hearing, they do not bring with them factual reports which requires calling them for further hearings.

Moreover when such cases are reported to senior officials, it is perceived, that some of them try to shield their errant juniors, says the report. To top this, when disciplinary actions are suggested against such officials, they are delayed for unreasonable period, some times to such an extent that the official ceases to be a public servant," the Lokayukta has submitted.

The Lokayukta has alsoexpressed concern over the inordinate delay by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in submitting its observations on the files submitted to it. "Whenever we submit the files or call for reports, our experience with the Anti-Corruption Bureau is not very happy and encouraging and speedy investigation on correct lines has almost become a misnomer," the Lokayukta stated.

"Delay also defeats the purpose of the investigations. This has been brought to the notice of the government time and again but our efforts to get the investigation completed soon have not borne any fruits," the Lokayukta has stated and has asked the government to provide his office with an independent investigating agency to work under its full control and directions without fear or favour.

In view of the increasing number of complaints against the Maharashtra State Electricity Board and Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation, the Lokayukta has urged the State Government to bring these two undertakings within the purview of the Lokayukta Act."We think these institutions need to be brought within our jurisdiction as there is no good reason to keep them outside. Similarly, we feel that all the universities in the State should also be brought within our jurisdiction," the report states.

During the year under review, the Lokayukta’s office received a record number of 12,757 complaints.

While the largest number of complaints (2,004) were against the Revenue Department, five complaints were made against the ministers.