The State Assembly of Bihar passed the Bihar Lokayukta Bill 2011

The state assembly of Bihar on 7 December 2011 passed the Bihar Lokayukta Bill 2011 to constitute a strong and effective Lokayukta in the state. The bill will have Chief Minister, ministers, former chief Ministers, the Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha and Chairman of the Legislative Council, Legislators and former legislators under its purview. It will cover also public servants, employees of the government and corporations or organizations getting government grants.

The bill provides for a three-member Lokayukta, which will have at least two members from the judiciary. Its chairperson and members are required to have special knowledge and professional experience of not less than 25 years in public affairs, academics, law, finance, management, administrative law and policy.  Moreover, the term of the chairperson and members would be five years from the date of assuming office. However, the Governor can suspend the chairperson or any other member from office on the ground of misbehaviour after the Supreme Court of India agrees on a reference made by the Governor.

There will be a five-member selection committee consisting of Legislative Council Chairman, Assembly Speaker, two judges (nominated by the Chief Justice of the Patna High Court) and a Lokayukta. Out of this selection committee, a search panel will be constituted and it will have a time-limit of three months to draw up a list of probable candidates for Lokayukta.