The Delhi Lokayukta and Upalokayukta Act (1995) states the Lokayukta can probe complaints against the chief minister, MLAs, municipal councillors, as well as the chairman, managing director and members of various boards under the government.

At present, there are no investigating officers attached to the Lokayukta office, which has been functioning for nearly a decade.

“The biggest problem is that not many people know about this institution and its jurisdiction. We are planning to begin an awareness campaign to educate people about the nature of complaints that can be filed with this office,” Sarin told Newsline.

The Lokayukta is appointed by the L-G; Chief Minister’s advice is also taken into account.

It took the government seven months after the previous Lokayukta, Justice Mohammed Shamim, left office, to fill up the post.

Tucked in a corner of Vikas Bhavan at ITO, the Lokayukta office works with a threadbare staff and handles merely three to four cases a year. The Karnataka Lokayukta office, on the other hand, disposed off 1,331 complaints between April 2007 and March 2008. It has a separate police wing functioning under it along with a staff of 650 enforcement officers.

Sources said that in his letter, Justice Sarin has asked for the appointment of at least two investigating officers, who can be drawn from the Delhi Police, CBI or any other enforcement agency. He has also asked the government to give him financial as well as administrative rights so that he can improve the infrastructure available with the office.

The Lokayukta office is also planning to set up a helpline so that people can easily file their complaints. The helpline will be manned by a judicial officer.

The Delhi Lokayukta
Only chief justices of any of the high courts or a judge who has served seven years in a high court are eligible for the post of lokayukta

The Lokayukta can also make suggestions to the government in case he or she feels there is scope for improvement during a probe or investigation