The Tamil Nadu Assembly on 9 July, 2018 passed the Tamil Nadu Lokayukta Bill, 2018 that was introduced by The minister for personnel and administrative reforms D. Jayakumar.
The Tamil Nadu Governments move came ahead of the Supreme Court's deadline to establish a Lokayukta by July 10.
The Lokayukta complaint can be filed on corruption which has taken place within four years’ period.
According to the bill, the anti-graft panel shall be chaired by a sitting or retired high court judge, or a person with 25 years of experience in anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance and law.
The anti-corruption ombudsman shall have four members, including two judicial members.
Appointment of Members
The chairperson and the members will be appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
The Select Committee comprises the Chief Minister as its head, Assembly Speaker and Leader of Opposition, or the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Assembly.
Lokayukta’s powers
The Lokayukta’s powers include summoning and examining any person and receiving evidence of affidavits.
The investigation wing of the body shall have all the powers of a civil court under the CrPC, 1908,
The Lokayukta Act was passed by the central government in 2013 and was notified by the Centre in 2014.
Section 63 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, states that every state shall establish a body to be known as the Lokayukta.