Hegde may draft Bihar Lokayukta bill

There are indications that ex- Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde may draft the new Bihar Lokayukta Bill. According to Indian Express, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had approached him through key Team Anna member and senior lawyer Shanti Bhushan around the time Anna Hazare had begun his fast in support of the Jan Lokpal bill.

 Justice Hegde, however, hasn’t got a formal invitation from the CM. He confirmed that Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, whom the Bihar CM had approached first, requested Shanti Bhushan to ask Hegde to draft the Bihar bill for a strong Lokayukta.

Bihar government is planning to bring in the amendment bill in the Assembly’s winter session to effect changes in the Bihar Lokayukta Act, 1973. The existing Act, dubbed as toothless, has only powers to recommend action against public servants barring the CM and its recommendation is not binding on the government.