Bhubaneswar: Odisha Parliamentary Affairs minister Bikram Keshari Arukh, Tuesday in the Assembly informed that the state government would urge the Supreme Court to modify its order on the appointment of the Lokayukta in the state.
The opposition Congress and the BJP had accused the ruling BJD government of filing a fake affidavit in the Supreme Court, saying that the Odisha Lokayukta Act has come into force from 2015. However, the state government has denied the accusation and maintained that it has not filed any such affidavit.
The minister stated that the Supreme Court, in its order, had said the state in an affidavit submitted earlier that the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014 has been in force since January 16, 2015 and presently steps for framing of the Odisha Search Committee Rules were under process.
However, he told that the state government would move the apex court, seeking a modification of the order as it had not filed any such affidavit in the court. Stating that the Assembly had passed the Odisha Lokayukta Bill, 2014 on February 14, 2014, Arukh said the Bill got the presidential assent on January 16, 2015.
"An affidavit, sworn by the chief secretary on April 9, 2018, containing the above facts, has been filed in the Supreme Court of India. In the said affidavit, it is no where stated that the Act has come into force," Arukh said.