Haryana Lokayukta to retire on July 18

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, July 17

Haryana Lokayukta Justice Nawal Kishore Agarwal is retiring on July 18, after a five-year tenure.

Justice Agarwal disposed off 2,500 cases, while 2,700 cases were instituted during his tenure. He continued to work even during the Covid pandemic.

Lokayukta investigates cases of corruption, where substantiated, recommends action.

His reports led to the recovery of hundreds of crores, particularly in VAT scam of Excise and Taxation Department. The case is still pending.

The prominent cases decided by him included one involving alleged nexus between private colonisers and Town and Country Planning Department.

Justice Agarwal held all the Director Generals, Town and Country Planning, who remained posted since 1992 till date (17 IAS officers), “responsible and guilty of actionable negligence, inaction and maladministration” and recommended for an SIT against officials responsible for licences issued in violation of rules.

He also called for inquiry against all Ambala Municipal Commissioners from 2012 till date, which included 11 IAS and seven HCS officers, in a case of unauthorised construction.

He concluded that Bollywood actress Soha Ali Khan got her arms licence in 1996 “in connivance with public servants” despite being ineligible. The files had gone missing in the case.

In another case, he indicted jail officials for the sale of farmland soil at Rs 3 lakh, which was in actual worth of Rs 3 crore.

He indicted Gurugram MC officials for ignoring illegal constructions and ‘Raahgiri’ scam.

Though it is a government prerogative, Justice Agarwal has been calling for amendments in the Lokayukta Act for strengthening the institution. He has sought enquiry wing for conducting preliminary inquiries and also the prosecution wing for trying indicted officials in special courts.

He has also been demanding that if no action is taken on his report against an official for four months, then he should have the power to direct Director Prosecution for his trial in a special court, for which prosecution sanction should be considered deemed to have been granted.

The strength of staff in the office was also increased during his tenure and a post of Joint Registrar was added too.