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{{Short description|Parliamentary ombudsman for Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Kerala Lokayukta
| body =
| image = [[File:Justice N Anil Kumar.jpg|150px|Justice N Anil Kumar]]
| incumbent = Justice N. Anil Kumar
| seat = Legislature Complex, Vikas bhavan, [[Thiruvananthapuram]]
| appointer = [[Governor of Kerala]]
| native_name = {{lang|ml|കേരള ലോകായുക്ത}}
| deputy = [[Lokayukta|Upa Lokayukta]]
| website = https://www.lokayuktakerala.gov.in
| constituting_instrument = Kerala Lokayukta Act, 1999
| termlength = 5 years
| imagecaption = Justice Cyriac Joseph, Lokayukta of Kerala.
| first = Justice PC Balakrishna Menon
| style = The Hon’ble
| imagesize = 140
| alt = Justice Cyriac Joseph, Lokayukta of Kerala.
| formation = {{Date and age|1999|df=yes}}
}}
'''Kerala Lokayukta''' is the [[Parliamentary Ombudsman]] for the state of [[Kerala]] ([[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 Kerala Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act, and approved by the [[president of India]] on 4 March 1999. With [[The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013]] adopted by the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] coming into force as a law on 16 January 2014, each state in India was required to appoint its [[Lokayukta]] within a year.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref3">{{cite news |last1=Seetharaman |first1=G. |title=Delay in the 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 the deputy of the Lokayukta and assists with her or his work and acts as the in-charge Lokayukta in case the position falls vacant prematurely.

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 the 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 ==

Kerala Lokayukta was formed on 15 November 1998 by the state Governor after the bill was signed by President of India.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref2">{{cite news |title=Lok Ayukta Day to be observed on Nov. 15 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/lok-ayukta-day-to-be-observed-on-nov-15/article29966502.ece |access-date=10 September 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=14 November 2019 |language=en-IN}}</ref> It resolved 34,662 cases out of 35,986 cases filed before it from the date of its formation. Every year 15 November is observed as Lokayukta Day in state. Till 2019 around 1320 cases were pending before it.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref7">{{cite news |title=1,320 cases pending for disposal before Kerala Lokayukta |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/1320-cases-pending-disposal-kerala-lokayukta-112271 |access-date=10 September 2021 |publisher=The News Minute |date=14 November 2019 |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, Kerala Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1999}}

== Powers ==

Kerala Lokayukta Act makes provision for the appointment of Lokayukta and authorities with certain functions with powers to enquire into complaints or other allegations against any officials mentioned in the Act for their actions mentioned in the Act. Kerala Lokayukta can only make recommendations to competent authority but can't enforce the punishment.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref2" />

== Appointment and tenure ==

Following is the list of Lokayuktas along with their tenure<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref9">{{cite web |title=Judge Master |url=https://www.lokayuktakerala.gov.in/master/r_judge.php |website=www.lokayuktakerala.gov.in |access-date=10 September 2021 |archive-date=10 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910111616/https://www.lokayuktakerala.gov.in/master/r_judge.php |url-status=dead }}</ref>-

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Index !!Name !! Holding charge from !! Holding charge to
|-
| 1
| Mr. Justice P.C. Balakrishna Menon
| 24.12.1998
| 23.12.2003
|-
| 2
| Mr. Justice K. Sreedharan
| 22.01.2004
| 22.01.2009
|-
| 3
| Mr. Justice. M.M. Pareed Pillay
| 31.01.2009
| 31.01.2014
|-
| 4
| Justice Pius C. Kuriakose
| 09.02.2014
| 08.02.2019
|-
| 5
| Justice Cyriac Joseph
| 28.03.2019
| 26.03.2024
|-
| 6
| [[N._Anil_Kumar|Justice N. Anil Kumar]]
| 21.08.2024
|
|-
|}

== Notable cases ==

Kerala Lokayukta had issued the following important orders

1. Kerala Lokayukta had issued notices to Chief Minister and some of his ministers in year 2019 on a complaint filed alleging misuse of funds from Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref3">{{cite news |title=Kerala Lokayukta issues notice to CM and ministers on accusation of disaster relief fund misuse |url=https://scroll.in/latest/909526/kerala-lokayukta-issues-notice-to-cm-and-ministers-on-accusation-of-disaster-relief-fund-misuse |access-date=10 September 2021 |publisher=Scroll.in}}</ref><ref name="Kerala Lok Ref4">{{cite news |title='Misuse' of disaster relief fund: Kerala Lokayukta admits plea |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/misuse-of-disaster-relief-fund-kerala-lokayukta-admits-plea-119011500350_1.html |access-date=10 September 2021 |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=15 January 2019}}</ref>

2. Complaint was filed in Lokayukta in the year 2021 against serving Minister for Forests AK Saseendran relating to the case of assault and abuse of power.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref5">{{cite news |title=Kundara sexual assault case: Lokayukta receives complaint against A K Saseendran |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/kundara-sexual-assault-case-lokayukta-receives-complaint-against-a-k-saseendran-compromise-chief-minister-1.5862395 |access-date=10 September 2021 |publisher=Mathrubhumi |date=27 July 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

3. Kerala Lokayukta recommended action against the serving Higher Education and Minority Welfare Minister K T Jaleel for appointing his second cousin K T Adeeb to Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation as General Manager after modifying the eligibility for the post and abusing the power of a Minister.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref6">{{cite news |title=Kerala Lokayukta finds Minister K T Jaleel guilty of nepotism; directs the government to remove him |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/kerala-lokayukta-finds-minister-k-t-jaleel-guilty-of-nepotism-directs-government-to-remove-him-972454.html |access-date=10 September 2021 |newspaper=Deccan Herald |date=9 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

4. In year 2011, Kerala Lokayukta had issued orders for the appearance of serving Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan`s son in an allegation related to bribery by opposition party.<ref name="Kerala Lok Ref8">{{cite news |title=Kerala Lokayukta issues notice to CM's son |url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/kerala/kerala-lokayukta-issues-notice-to-cms-son_704322.html |access-date=10 September 2021 |publisher=Zee News |date=5 May 2011 |language=en}}</ref>

== Related articles ==

* [[The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== See also ==

* [[Kerala Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau]]
* [[Lokpal]]

== External links ==
* [https://www.lokayuktakerala.gov.in/admin/index.php official website]



[[Category:Politics of Kerala]]
[[Category:Lokayuktas]]

Kerala Lokayukta - Revision history

Meherhospital at 16:42, 20 September 2025