Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh Sworn as the new Lokayukta of MP

Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh who has been appointed the new Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh. Governor Mangubhai Patel administered the oath at Raj Bhavan. 

• The tenure of the previous Lokayukta, NK Gupta, ended on October 17th last year and a new appointment had not been made until now. It was initially believed that the state would only appoint a new Lokayukta after the Lok Sabha elections. 
• However, the appointment of former Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh as Lokayukta has been made before the implementation of the code of conduct. 
• Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh retired from the post of High Court judge in 2023 after holding many important positions in the High Court, including Principal Registrar. Additionally, he has also held the post of ADJ in Bhopal District Court. On the orders of Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel, the General Administration Department issued orders for the appointment of Justice Satyendra Kumar Singh to the post of Lokayukta.
• If a new Lokayukta is not appointed after the completion of the tenure of the current Lokayukta, then the tenure of the current Lokayukta is automatically extended. This extension can be up to one year. The tenure of Lokayukta NK Gupta was completed on October 17th, 2023.

About Lokayukta

• In February 1982 the MP Lokayukta Organization was established. It was established under Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta and Up-Lokayukt Act, 1981.
• The idea of creating an independent organization similar to an "Ombudsman" had been in the works since the mid-1970s, after the State Administrative Reforms Commission recommended that the State Vigilance Commission be replaced by an organization with statutory powers. 
• The Commission, which was previously responsible for preventing and checking corruption, had limitations in the absence of constitutional or statutory recognition of its position. It was observed that it could act at best as a department of the government. 
• Based on recommendations from the Government of India and the observations of the ARC, a bill was moved in the M.P. Legislative Assembly in 1975. 
• After its passage, it was sent for the President's assent but was returned to the State Government for reconsideration due to certain rethinking at the Union Government level. The bill was then passed in April 1981 with some modifications and received Presidential assent in September of the same year.
• The Lokayukta Organization was established under the Act to replace the Vigilance Commission and is now completely free from executive influence. 
• It functions as an instrument of control over the executive by the legislature, with its annual reports submitted to the Governor for review and discussion in the State Legislative Assembly.