The Kerala Lokayukta has found Higher Education Minister K.T. Jaleel guilty of abusing his position as a public servant to obtain a favour for his relative and submitted a report to the Chief Minister, saying he should not continue as a minister.

A division bench of the Lokayukta, headed by Justice Cyriac Joseph and Upa Lokayukta, Justice Harun-Ul-Rashid, said the allegation of abuse of power, favoritism and nepotism against the minister has been proved.

The Muslim Youth League had on November 2, 2018 alleged that Adeeb K.T, a cousin of Jaleel, was appointed general manager in the Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation, flouting rules.

What is Lokayukta?

• The First Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC) was set up in January 1966 to examine the public administration of the country and make recommendations for reform and reorganisation when necessary.

• The Commission was headed by Morarji Desai. When Morarji Desai became the deputy prime minister, K. Hunmanthaiya became its chairman. 

• The Commission submitted 20 reports and it contained 537 major recommendations. 

• One of major recommendations was the establishment of an Ombudsman Institution at the central and state level for redressal of citizens grievances by investigating into administrative actions taken by or on behalf of the governments or certain public authorities. These were intended to serve as institutions independent of the government and to supplement the judicial institutions headed by chief justices or judges of the Supreme Court or High Courts.

• The recommendation was made to improve the standards of public administration, by looking into complaints against administrative actions, including cases of corruption, favouritism and official indiscipline in administrative machinery. 

• Odisha was the first state to enact a law — Odisha Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 1970. However, the state implemented it only in 1983. 

• In 1972, Maharashtra became the first state in India to establish Lokayukta.

• Since then, most states have passed Acts to establish Lokayukta to improve the standard of public administration through investigation against public functionaries.

• Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 provides for the establishment of a body of Lokpal for the Union and and Lokayukta for states to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.  

• The governor of a state appoints Lokayukta/Upa Lokayuktas. The term of the Lokayukta is normally five years. In Uttar Pradesh, it is eight years.   

• Once appointed, a Lokayukta cannot be dismissed nor transferred by the government. Lokayukta can be removed by only passing an impeachment motion by the state Assembly.

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