Bill Summary

The Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2023

• The Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on September 23, 2023.  It seeks to amend the Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta Act, 2014.  The Act establishes a Lokayukta to inquire into allegations of corruption and complaints of grievances against public servants.

• Salary and conditions of service of Lokayukta: Under the Act, persons eligible to be appointed as the Lokayukta include serving or retired: (i) Judge of the Supreme Court, (ii) Chief Justice of a High Court, and (iii) Judge of a High Court.  The Act specifies the salary, allowance, and service conditions of the Lokayukta to be same as the Chief Justice of a High Court.  The Bill adds that if a Judge of a High Court is appointed as the Lokayukta, their salary, allowance, and service will align with the Judge of a High Court, instead of the Chief Justice of a High Court.