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{{Short description|Anti-corruption Ombudsman for the state of Delhi}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
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| formed = 1997
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| headquarters = Office of the Lokayukta, Government Of NCT Of Delhi, 'G' Block, Vikas Bhawan, I.P. Estates, New Delhi-110002, 2337-0865, 2337-0561, 2337-0073, Fax: 2337-8155 Telefax:2337-0570,
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| chief1name = [[Harish Chandra Mishra|Justice Harish Chandra Mishra]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Department of Lokayukta |url=http://lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_lokayukta/Lokayukta/Home/About+Us |access-date=31 August 2021 |publisher=lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in |archive-date=30 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830090623/http://lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_lokayukta/Lokayukta/Home/About+Us |url-status=dead }}</ref>
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'''Delhi Lokayukta''' is a high level statutory functionary formed by the [[Government of Delhi]] under the Delhi Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1995. The position acts as the [[parliamentary ombudsman]] for the Union Territory of Delhi. The act is aimed to increase efficiency in the standard of services in public offices through immediate investigation of grievances against ministers, legislators and other public servants and officials serving in Government offices, by any member of public through their timely investigation .<ref name="Del Ref7">{{cite news |title=What is a Lokayukta? |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/what-is-a-lokayukta-423575 |access-date=31 August 2021 |publisher=NDTV.com |date=12 July 2010}}</ref> The [[Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013|Lokpal and Lokayukta's Act, 2013]] in [[Parliament of India|Parliament]] had become law with effect from 16 January 2014 and requires each state to appoint its [[Lokayukta]] within a year.<ref name="Delhi 1">{{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=30 August 2021 |publisher=The Economic Times |date=10 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Delhi 2">{{cite news |last1=Bureau |first1=Our |title=Lok Sabha passes landmark Lokpal Bill |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/lok-sabha-passes-landmark-lokpal-bill/article20701403.ece1 |access-date=30 August 2021 |publisher=@businessline |date=18 December 2013 |language=en}}</ref> A bench of Lokayukta should consist of judicial and non-judicial members.<ref name="Delhi Ref8">{{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=31 August 2021 |publisher=The Economic Times |date=8 December 2020}}</ref>

A Lokayukta is appointed by the Governor of a state after consulting a committee consisting of the Chief Minister of State, Speaker of its Legislative Assembly, Leader of Opposition in the legislature, Chairman of Legislative Council and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council. Appointment is for a five-year term and once appointed, a Lokayukta cannot be removed from office except in cases of misbehaviour or any other reasons specified in the Act.

== History and administration ==

The Delhi Lokayukta and Uplokayukta Act, 1995 became operational from 22 September 1997.<ref name="Delhi Ref5" /> As per the Act, Chief Justice of the [[Delhi High Court]] and the [[Leader of Opposition]] in the Legislative Assembly are consulted by [[Lieutenant Governor of Delhi]] while selecting and appointing a person as Lokayukta for the [[Union Territory]] of Delhi. As per the Act, once the office of Lokayukta becomes vacant due to retirement, superannuation or for any other reason of a serving official, a new Lokayukta should be appointed within a period of 6 months.<ref name="Delhi Ref4">{{cite news |title=Ensure Lokayukta appointment is made as per rules, BJP urges HC Chief Justice |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/delhi/ensure-lokayukta-appointment-is-made-as-per-rules-bjp-urges-hc-chief-justice-117056 |access-date=30 August 2021 |publisher=Tribuneindia News Service |date=7 August 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Many state Legislature have adopted the Act so that in addition to only serving chief Justices or sitting judges even retired Chief Justices or retired Justices can be considered as eligible for appointment for the position as the State Lokayukta.<ref name="Delhi Ref9">{{cite news |title=Andhra Pradesh Assembly Passes Judicial Commission Bill to Bring Transparency in Govt Tenders |url=https://www.news18.com/news/politics/andhra-pradesh-assembly-passes-judicial-commission-bill-to-bring-transparency-in-govt-tenders-2247663.html |access-date=31 August 2021 |publisher=News18 |date=26 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

== Oath or affirmation ==

"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, The Delhi Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1995

== Powers ==

Lokayukta has independent powers to investigate and prosecute any government official or [[public servants]] who are covered by the act and against whom 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 complaint is received on allegations of corruption, wrong use of authority and misdeeds by any of the public functionaries who may include Chief Minister, Ministers under him and members of the Legislature Assembly, Lokayukta has the power to recommend enquiry to necessary authorities and prosecute if proven. However, members like civil servants, Central Government officers, members of the legal community, police and officials of the Delhi Development Authority are excluded from this Act.<ref name="Del Ref7" />

== Appointment and tenure ==

In year 2015, [[Reva Khetrapal]] was appointed as a new Lokayukta for a term of five years.<ref name="Delhi Ref3">{{cite news |title=Reva Khetrapal is Delhi's new Lokayukta |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/reva-khetrapal-is-delhi-s-new-lokayukta/story-PvTupso3cHr4SdRF26a5bL.html |access-date=30 August 2021 |publisher=Hindustan Times |date=20 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref> She was appointed two years after the previous lokayukta, Justice Manmohan Sarin, retired after serving a period of five years. Following is the list of past Lokayukta's of Delhi:<ref name="Delhi Ref5">{{cite web |title=Department of Lokayukta |url=http://lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_lokayukta/Lokayukta/Home/About+Us |website=lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in |access-date=30 August 2021 |archive-date=30 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830090552/http://lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in/wps/wcm/connect/doit_lokayukta/Lokayukta/Home/About+Us |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Index !!Name !! Holding charge from !! Holding charge to
|-
| 1
| Justice Shri R.N.Aggarwal
| 01.12.1997
| 01.12.2002
|-
| 2
| Justice Shri Mohd. Shamim
| 12.03.2003
| 12.03.2008
|-
| 3
| Justice Sh. Manmohan Sarin
| 06.11.2008
| 06.11.2013
|-
| 4
| Justice Ms Reva Khetrapal
| 17.12.2015
|
|}

== Notable cases ==

Following are some of the important orders passed by the Institution:

1. In one of the cases on complaints relating to release of stipends for old age people under a scheme during the year 2018, which had allegedly resulted in a notable loss to the state Government, the institution had ordered for registering an FIR against
a [[North Delhi Municipal Corporation]] (NDMC) councillor.<ref name="Delhi Ref1">{{cite news |title=Delhi HC declines to stay Lokayukta order for FIR against MCD councillor over old age stipends {{!}} Delhi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-hc-declines-to-stay-lokayukta-order-for-fir-against-mcd-councillor-over-old-age-stipends/articleshow/81872912.cms |access-date=30 August 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=2 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

2. In year 2019 on a complaint received by it, the Lokayukta had asked the state Assembly to issue notices to all MLA's to make annual declaration of their assets and liabilities.<ref name="Delhi Ref2">{{cite news |last1=Nath |first1=Damini |title=Lokayukta, Delhi Assembly at loggerheads over notices to MLAs |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/lokayukta-delhi-assembly-at-loggerheads-over-notices-to-mlas/article26019592.ece |access-date=30 August 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=18 January 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

3. In one of its earlier orders, the institution gave a clean chit to ex Delhi Chief Minister Ms.[[Sheila Dikshit]] on a complaint relating to a case for granting of government grants to a private firm in noncompliance of regulations and resulting in undue favours.<ref name="Delhi Ref6">{{cite news |title=Advertisement Contract: Delhi Lokayukta Gives Clean Chit to Sheila |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/advertisement-contract-delhi-lokayukta-gives-clean-chit-to-sheila/948655 |access-date=30 August 2021 |publisher=www.outlookindia.com |date=1 August 2016}}</ref>

== Related articles ==

*[[The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013]]
*[[Goa Lokayukta]]
*[[Maharashtra Lokayukta]]
*[[Gujarat Lokayukta]]
*[[Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in// official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518064431/http://lokayukta.delhigovt.nic.in/ |date=18 May 2021 }}



[[Category:Government institutions]]
[[Category:Delhi]]
[[Category:Lokayuktas]]

Delhi Lokayukta - Revision history

Md at 19:10, 6 August 2025