MANUAL-1 

Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties

[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]

 Office at a Glance

a) About the Office

        Office of Lokpal has been established by the State Government, basing on the recommendation of the Administrative Reforms Commission appointed by the Central Government in 1966 in it interim Report dated 20.10.1966 .It is under administrative control of PG&PA department. lt is quite gratifying that Odisha is the first State in India to have enacted Odisha Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act,1970.But,the establishment of the institution came twelve years after the enactment. Justice Sri B.K.Patra was the first Lokpal who started functioning in 1983.After his demise while in Office. Justice Sri S K Ray assumed office as the second Lokpal during the tenure of second Lokpal, the Act was repealed in 1992 only to reehact in 1995.Justice Sri K.P Mohapatra assumed Office as third Lokpal of Odisha in i 997 and continued upto 2002, till completion of his five year tenure. In 2003, Justice Sri S.C.Mohapatra assumed Office as fourth Lokpal he is on the verge of his completion of tenure in August, 2008.

b) Activities of the Departmental

    Basic aim of this institution is to perform the functions of making public servants accountable for their respective actions in complementation of policies, plane and programmes for welfare of people, where a citizens facts discontented by such action.

    This institution is a supplement to legislature and judiciary as most of the citizens could not approach with their grievances in which they feel aggrieved in respect of actions of public servants in these fora for one reason on the other.

    For letter performance of functions acceptable to utilizes by gainiy their confidence and to demonstrate that he is independent of the Executive Government in performance of huspendition Lokpal has been given the State comparable to the highest judicial functionary in the State i.e. the chief Justice of the High court. There investigation and proceedings should be conducted in private and should be informal in character as for as practicable. The Act provided for a Lokayukta comparative to a judge of the High court with the same powers as of Lokpal in the Institution where Lokpal is the head to public servants of some categories. No Lokayuktas has been appointed ever since the Institution has been establishment and Lokpal discharges function of both Lokpal and Lokayukta.

 Aims and Objectives of the Organization

    As has been observed in the interim report of Administrative Reforms Commission, as a part of democratic response to the needs of citizen, Constitution of India contains provisions designated to safeguard individual rights.

   This twin approach was made by formulating Fundamental Rights of the Citizen and establishment of avenues for ventilation and redressal of citizens'grievances.A breach of fundamental right has been made justifiable and the citizen can have access to courts to enforce them and also to seek remedies against the illegal actions of Government or officers and also to seek remedies against the illegal actions of Government or officers and authorities subordinate to them. To achieve the desired standards of probity, propriety and efficiency in administration, the Institution of Lokpal has been established.

   The important aims and objectives of the establishment of the Institution of Lokpal are to set right administrative actions on ground of failure to follow prescribed procedure and rules of natural justice. Thus, a common individual can have access to quick and cheap way to justice through the good offices of Lokpal.

Mission / Vision

    The Institution of Lokpal has only one mission to mitigate the grievance/allegation of a common man arising out of the action or inaction of a public servant to perform his duties as defined in the Odisha Lokpal and Lokayuktas'Act, 1995.

   The vision is to create transparency in the administration and to make the administration accountable to the public for its action. The tempo is maintained so that none should suffer from maladministration and malfunctioning of public servants.