An inquiry wing under Lokpal was recently constituted to conduct preliminary probes into corruption allegations against public servants.
About the Inquiry Committee:
- The establishment of the inquiry wing aims to strengthen the Lokpal’s capacity to investigate corruption allegations more effectively.
- This is in line with Section 11 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, which mandates the formation of an inquiry wing.
- Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 was enacted to address corruption in public offices and establish a national ombudsman for investigating and prosecuting corruption cases involving public servants.
- Administrative Actions: for appointing officers and staff to the new inquiry wing.
- The inquiry wing will be structured with a Director of Inquiry, supported by three Superintendents of Police (SPs)—SP (general), SP (economic and banking), and SP (cyber).
- Each SP will have a team of inquiry officers and additional staff.
Other Key Points:
- Prosecution Wing: The Lokpal Act also provides for a prosecution wing, headed by a Director of Prosecution, but this wing has yet to be constituted.
- Until it is operational, the central government is required to provide officers and staff to assist with prosecutions.
- Presently, there are three judicial and three non-judicial members in the Lokpal.
- As of July 2024, there were 82 graft-related complaints with the Lokpal, of which 32 were disposed of, and 52 remained pending.
- The complaints include those against Members of Parliament, central government officials, and officials from various boards, corporations, and autonomous bodies.
- Despite these developments, the Lokpal faces challenges such as staffing vacancies and the need for a fully operational prosecution wing to effectively tackle corruption cases.
Ref: Source
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Frequently Asked Question:
What is the purpose of establishing the inquiry wing within the Lokpal?
The inquiry wing aims to enhance the Lokpal’s ability to investigate corruption allegations more effectively, into corruption cases involving public servants.
What does Section 11 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act mandate?
Section 11 mandates the formation of an inquiry wing to facilitate the investigation of corruption allegations against public officials and ensure proper scrutiny of such cases.
What is the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013?
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, was enacted to combat corruption in public offices by establishing a national ombudsman (Lokpal) and state-level ombudsmen (Lokayuktas) responsible for investigating and prosecuting corruption cases involving public servants.