Ellen248280 at 02:59, 7 August 2025

2025-08-07T02:59:53Z

New page

{{Short description|Anti-corruption Ombudsman for the state of Bihar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Bihar Lokayukta
| nativename =
| nativenamea =
| nativenamer =
| commonname =
| patch =
| patchcaption =
| logo =
| logocaption =
| badge =
| badgecaption =
| flag =
| flagcaption =
| image_size =
| motto =
| mottotranslated =
| mission =
| formed = 2011
| preceding1 =
| employees =
| volunteers =
| budget =
| country = India
| federal = No
| map =
| mapcaption =
| sizearea =
| sizepopulation =
| legaljuris =
| governingbody =
| governingbodyscnd =
| constitution1 =
| restriction =
| overviewtype =
| overviewbody =
| headquarters = Lokyukta, Bihar, 4, Kautilya Marg, Bailey Road, Patna-800001, Bihar. Ph : 0612-2215236, Fax : 0612-2204844 E-mail : lokayukta-bih@nic.in.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref7" />
| hqlocmap =
| hqlocleft =
| hqloctop =
| hqlocmappoptitle =
| sworntype =
| sworn =
| unsworntype =
| unsworn =
| electeetype =
| minister1name =
| minister1pfo =
| chief1name = Hon'ble Mr. Kirti Chandra Saha.
| chief1position =
| parentagency =
| website =
| child1agency =
| unittype =
| unitname =
| officetype =
| officename =
| stationtype =
| stations =
}}
The '''Bihar Lokayukta''' is the [[Parliamentary Ombudsman]] for the state of [[Bihar]] ([[India]]). It is a high level statutory functionary, created to address grievances of the public against ministers, legislators, administration and public servants in issues related to misuse of power, mal-administration and corruption.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref2">{{cite news |title=What is a Lokayukta? |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/what-is-a-lokayukta-423575 |access-date=5 September 2021 |publisher=NDTV.com}}</ref> It was first formed under the Bihar Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act, and approved by the [[president of India]] on 2011. The [[Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013|Lokpal and Lokayukta's Act, 2013]], that had been adopted by the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] and became law on 16 January 2014, required each state in India to appoint its [[Lokayukta]] within a year.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref3">{{cite news |last1=Seetharaman |first1=G. |title=Delay in appointment of Lokpal & Lokayukta: Who will bell the graft? |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-there-is-no-lokpal-at-centre-and-lokayukta-in-many-states/articleshow/66570168.cms |access-date=5 September 2021 |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=10 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Bihar Lok Ref4">{{cite news |title=Lok Sabha passes landmark Lokpal Bill |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/lok-sabha-passes-landmark-lokpal-bill/article20701403.ece1 |access-date=5 September 2021 |publisher=businessline |date=12 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Under the 2013 law, a bench of Lokayukta should consist of judicial and non-judicial members.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref5">{{cite news |title=Only four states have appointed judicial, non-judicial members of Lokayukta, says report |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/only-four-states-have-appointed-judicial-non-judicial-members-of-lokayukta-says-report/articleshow/79627314.cms?from=mdr |access-date=5 September 2021 |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=8 December 2020}}</ref> An Upa-Lokayukta is a deputy to the Lokayukta and assists with her or his work and acts as the in-charge Lokayukta in case the position falls vacant before time.

A [[Lokayukta]] of the state is appointed to office by the state [[Governor]] after consulting the committee consisting of State [[Chief Minister]], [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of Legislative Assembly, [[Leader of Opposition]], Chairman of Legislative Council and Leader of Opposition of Legislative Council and cannot be removed from office except for reasons specified in the Act and will serve the period of five years.

== History and administration ==
Bihar Lokayukta and Upa Lokayuka Act was passed on 22 December 2011.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref12">{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shoumojit |title=Bihar Assembly passes Lokayukta Bill |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bihar-assembly-passes-lokayukta-bill/article2695925.ece |access-date=6 September 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=7 December 2011 |language=en-IN}}</ref> To prevent misuse of the institution the Act was amended in the year 2021.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref1" /> The office of Bihar Lokayukta is situated in 4, Kautilya Marg, Bailey Road, Patna-800001, Bihar.

== Oath or affirmation ==
{{Blockquote|"I, <name>, having been appointed Lokayukta (or Upa-Lokayukta) do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will bear faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will."

|First Schedule, Bihar Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1986}}

== Powers ==
As per the Bihar Lokayukta's Act, it empowers the Lokayukta to file a case in a special court of complaint received by it and forward the report with its findings and recommendation for disciplinary action to the competent authority against the complainant.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref11">{{cite news |last1=Karmakar |first1=Debashish |title=Patna HC: Lokayukta not super executive body empowered to control executive and issue commandments {{!}} Patna News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/patna-hc-lokayukta-not-super-executive-body-empowered-to-control-executive-and-issue-commandments/articleshow/76220571.cms |access-date=6 September 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=5 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Bihar Lokayukta has independent powers to investigate and prosecute any government official or [[public servants]] of all grades,<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref1" /> who are covered by the act and against whom the complaint is received for abusing his authority for self interest or causes hurt to anyone or any action done intentionally or following corrupt practices negatively impacting the state or individual. Once a complaint is received on allegations of corruption, wrong use of authority and misdeeds by any of the public functionaries who may include the Chief Minister, Ministers under him and members of Legislature Assembly, Lokayukta has the power to recommend enquiry to necessary authorities and prosecute, if proven.

In year 2021, to avoid the wastage of the institution time and its misuse and penalising the people for filing wrong cases, an amendment had been introduced in the Bihar Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta's Act.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref1">{{cite news |title=Bihar Assembly passes Lokayukta Bill |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/mar/18/bihar-assembly-passes-lokayukta-bill-2278427.html |access-date=5 September 2021 |newspaper=The New Indian Express |date=18 March 2021}}</ref>

== Appointment and tenure ==
Following are the details and tenure of Bihar Lokayuktas.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref7">{{cite web |title=Lokayukta Bihar |url=https://www.lokayukta.bih.nic.in/ |website=www.lokayukta.bih.nic.in |access-date=5 September 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Index !!Name !! Holding charge from !! Holding charge to
|-
| 1
| Hon’ble Sri Shridhar Vasudeva Sohoni, I.C.S. (Retd.)
| 28 May 1973
| 27 May 1978
|-
| 2
| Justice(Retd), Hon’ble Mr. Shyam Nandan Prasad Singh
| 8 June 1978
| 7 June 1983
|-
| 3
| Justice(Retd), Hon’ble Mr. Justice Syed Sarwar Ali
| 7 February 1991
| 6 February 1996
|-
| 4
| Justice(Retd), Hon’ble Mr. Narbadeshwar Pandey
| 8 June 2001
| 7 June 2006
|-
| 5
| Justice(Retd), Hon’ble Mr. Ram Nandan Prasad
| 25 August 2006
| 24 August 2011
|-
| 6
| Justice(Retd), Hon’ble Mr. C. M. Prasad
| 25 August 2011
| 24 August 2016
|-
| 7
| Justice(Retd), Hon’ble Mr. Mihir Kumar Jha
| 18 May 2016
| 17 May 2021
|-
| 8
| Hon’ble Mr. Kirti Chandra Saha, I.A.S. (Retd.)
| 18 May 2016
| 17 May 2021
| 9
|}Hon'ble justice sanjay kumar singh
| 10 july 2024
| 9 july 2029

== Notable cases ==
In August 2021, in a case relating to alleged serious irregularities by some BR Ambedkar University officials in appointments and financial lapses in the University, the Bihar High Court has asked the petitioner to approach the Bihar Lokayukta.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref6">{{cite news |title=HC asks petitioner to move Lokayukta with complaint against BRABU V-C |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patna-news/hc-asks-petitioner-to-move-lokayukta-with-complaint-against-brabu-vc-101629822309384.html |access-date=5 September 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=24 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

The Lokayukta of Bihar in one of its observations highlighted the financial mis-management issues in Purnea University.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref8">{{cite news |title=Bihar Lokayukta probe points to financial irregularities in Purnea University |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/patna-news/bihar-lokayukta-probe-points-to-financial-irregularities-in-purnea-university-101612847463049.html |access-date=6 September 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=9 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Bihar Lok Ref9">{{cite news |last1=Jain |first1=Isha |title=DDU VC under Bihar Lokayukta lens for fin lapses during stint at Purnea varsity {{!}} Lucknow News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/ddu-vc-under-bihar-lokayukta-lens-for-fin-lapses-during-stint-at-purnea-varsity/articleshow/80757094.cms |access-date=6 September 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=9 February 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

[[The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013]]

[[West Bengal Lokayukta]]

[[Delhi Lokayukta]]

[[Karnataka Lokayukta]]

[[Maharashtra Lokayukta]]

[[Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.lokayukta.bih.nic.in/ Official website]

{{Lokayukta}}

[[Category:Lokayuktas]]
[[Category:Government of Bihar]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Bihar]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2011]]

Bihar Lokayukta - Revision history

Ellen248280 at 02:59, 7 August 2025