Odisha extends Assembly session to pass Lokayukta Bill

In its bid to ensure passage of the Odisha Lokayukta Bill-2014, the last session of the 14th legislative assembly has been extended by a day.
"The tenure of the House is being extended by a day," Speaker Pradip Kumar Amat announced today in the House.
The last session of the 14th Assembly, which began on February 3, was scheduled to end today. But the debate on Odisha Lokayukta Bill, which began yesterday, could not be completed. There were 60 clauses in the Bill.
According to provisions of the Bill, the Chief Minister, former chief ministers, ministers, ex-ministers, MLAs, ex-MLAs, government officials and district judges will come under the purview of the Lokayukta.

Opposition Congress, however, criticised the state government for hurriedly passing the Bill without a proper debate.
"The government is in a hurry to pass this Bill in order to repeal the Odisha Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 1995 which had indicted the Chief Minister's Office in the Vedandta University land scam," alleged Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan.