Tiger44444f4 at 14:32, 22 March 2026

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{{Short description|Parliamentary Ombudsman for the state of Jharkhand}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname = Jharkhand Lokayukta
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| formed = 2001
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| headquarters = OFFICE OF THE LOKAYUKTA JHARKHAND, BOOTY ROAD, RANCHI-834008. Ph:(O)- 0651- 2360633, FAX-0651-2360622. Email-id: lokayukta-jhr@nic.in
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| chief1name = Hon’ble Justice Dhruv Narayan Upadhyay.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref1">{{cite web |title=List of Jharkhand Lokayukta |url=http://lokayuktajharkhand.nic.in/list_lokayukta.html |website=lokayuktajharkhand.nic.in |access-date=18 September 2021}}</ref>
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'''Jharkhand Lokayukta''' is the [[Parliamentary Ombudsman]] for the state of [[Jharkhand]] ([[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. It was first formed under the Jharkhand Lokayukta Act-2001, and approved by the [[president of India]]. With [[The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013]] adopted by the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] coming into force on 16 January 2014, each Indian state was required 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> 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 Lokayukta<ref name="Hary Lok Ref1">{{cite news |title=No provision of advertising vacancies of Lokayukta: MP Govt |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/no-provision-of-advertising-vacancies-of-lokayukta-mp-govt/articleshow/50742053.cms |access-date=12 September 2021 |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=27 January 2016}}</ref> 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]],<ref name="Hary Lok Ref1" /> or leader of largest opposition party in State Legislature, 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 ==

Jharkhand Lokayukta Act-2001 was passed in the Jharkhand Assembly and was effective from the year 2001.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref7">{{cite news |title=Dhrub Narayan to be new Lokayukta of Jharkhand |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/ranchi/dhrub-narayan-to-be-new-lokayukta-of-jharkhand/story-5lWgTT2Ou0dNQSPO4jWl9M.html |access-date=18 September 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=30 January 2017 |language=en}}</ref> The Act was created from Bihar after Jharkhand got separated as a state and it got operational in latter from 4 December 2004. In 2011, Jharkhand Lokayukta Rules were amended to make them serious and to help remove corruption by including officials from top to bottom in the State Government offices and bringing Chief Minister's office under its purview.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref6">{{cite news |title=Jharkhand Lokayukta Act to be made stringent: CM |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/regional/jharkhand-lokayukta-act-to-be-made-stringent-cm/ |access-date=18 September 2021 |newspaper=The Indian Express |date=23 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> Once a complaint is received against any Government official it is forwarded to a competent authority to conduct a preliminary investigation within a prescribed time frame and once the complaint is proved a regular case is filed.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref2" /> In 2015, Jharkhand Lokayukta had got a new office near Jharkhand Mukti Morcha(JMM) leader and party president Sibu Soren's official residence.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref5">{{cite news |title=JMM sees red over Lokayukta new office near Soren house |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/ranchi/jmm-sees-red-over-lokayukta-new-office-near-soren-house/story-jdOiSEr0QwdVC3xoMkIoKK.html |access-date=18 September 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=1 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref>

Lokayukta in Jharkhand does not have power of search and seizure.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref9">{{cite news |title='New Lokayukta Act needed in Jharkhand' {{!}} Ranchi News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ranchi/new-lokayukta-act-needed-in-jharkhand/articleshow/18280313.cms |access-date=18 September 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=1 February 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

== Oath or affirmation ==

{{Quotation|"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, JHARKHAND LOKAYUKTA Act-2001}}

== Powers ==

Jharkhand Lokayukta has complete and exclusive authority for enquiring into allegations or complaints against the State Chief Minister, State Deputy Chief Minister, Ministers of the state Government, Mayors of cities, Leader of Opposition and Government officials.
The institution has powers to investigate and prosecute any government official or public servants who are covered by the act and abuses his authority for his self interest or causes hurt to anyone or any action done intentionally or following corrupt practices negatively impacting the state or individual.{{fact|date=August 2024}}

== Appointment and tenure ==

Jharkhand Lokayukta is Justice Dhruv Narayan Upadhyay,<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref7" /> will head a two member team with a term of five years or reaching of the age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. He retired as a judge of Jharkhand High Court.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref8">{{cite news |title=Jharkhand's Lokayukta Justice DN Prasad passes due to Corona in AIIMS Delhi |url=https://www.uniindia.com/jharkhand-s-lokayukta-justice-dn-prasad-passes-due-to-corona-in-aiims-new-delhi/east/news/2434544.html |access-date=18 September 2021 |publisher=uniindia.com |date=29 June 2021}}</ref>
Jharkhand Lokayukta Chairperson will be appointed by Governor along with other members who are recommended by a committee headed by Chief Minister and other members being
Speaker of Assembly and Opposition Leader in Assembly, or elected leader of the largest opposition party in the Assembly.

Following is the list and tenure of various Lokayuktas of the state:<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref7" /><ref name="Jhark Lok Ref1" />

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Index !!Name !! Holding charge from !! Holding charge to
|-
| 1
| Hon'ble Mr. Justice Laxman Oraon
| 4 December 2004
| 4 December 2009
|-
| 2
| Hon'ble Mr. Justice, Amareshwar Sahay
| 3 January 2011
| 2 January 2016
|-
| 3
| Hon'ble Mr. Justice, D.N. Upadhyay
| 13 January 2017
|
|-
|}

== Notable cases ==

# In 2019, Jharkhand Lokayukta Justice Dhruv Narayan Upadhyay on a complaint of corruption received against Ranchi deputy mayor Sanjeev Vijayvargiya, had forwarded the same to state's Anti-corruption department with a direction to investigate.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref2">{{cite news |title=Graft glare on Ranchi deputy mayor |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/jharkhand/graft-glare-on-ranchi-deputy-mayor/cid/1680758 |access-date=18 September 2021 |publisher=telegraphindia.com |date=3 January 2019}}</ref>
# In 2019, Jharkhand Lokayukta on a complaint received formed a three member team to enquire into allegations of corruption and misuse of office by officials of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Jharkhand State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (JMF) and were found to be correct.<ref name="Jhark Lok Ref3">{{cite news |title=NDDB Managed Jharkhand Milk Federation Emerges Hotbed of Corruption in Lokayukta Enquiry |url=https://www.moneylife.in/article/nddb-managed-jharkhand-milk-federation-emerges-hotbed-of-corruption-in-lokayukta-enquiry/57772.html |access-date=18 September 2021 |publisher=Moneylife NEWS & VIEWS |date=25 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Jhark Lok Ref4">{{cite news |title=Mother Dairy's MD Sangram Choudhary Replaced? |url=https://www.moneylife.in/article/mother-dairys-md-sangram-choudhary-replaced/61750.html |access-date=18 September 2021 |date=7 October 2020 |ref=Moneylife NEWS & VIEWS |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

*[[Goa Lokayukta]]
*[[Karnataka Lokayukta]]
*[[Chhattisgarh Lokayog]]
*[[Haryana Lokayukta]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://lokayuktajharkhand.nic.in/Act.html official website]

{{Lokayukta}}


[[Category:Lokayuktas]]
[[Category:Politics of Jharkhand]]

Jharkhand Lokayukta - Revision history

Tiger44444f4 at 14:32, 22 March 2026