Maharashtra Assembly passes Bill to bring CM under Lokayukta ambit | Nagpur News

March 30, 2026 Headlinesnews

2 min readNagourUpdated: Dec 29, 2022 02:37 AM IST

The Maharashtra Assembly Wednesday unanimously passed the Maharashtra Lokayukta Act, 2022. The Act was passed after the opposition boycotted the Assembly proceedings. The Act will give additional powers to the Lokayukta to direct state agencies to probe public servants, including the chief minister and state ministers.

Thanking all the members for passing the Act unanimously, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said it would have been great had the opposition not boycotted the House. Fadnavis said his government has accepted all the recommendations made by the committee led by social activist Anna Hazare, who has been demanding a strong Lokayukta in Maharashtra. The Act will now be presented in the Legislative Council for approval.

The Act, Fadnavis said, will give additional powers to not only recommend action but also direct state agencies to undertake investigation.

As per the Act, any present or former chief minister of Maharashtra can be investigated by the Lokayukta only if the motion for the same is passed by the Legislative Assembly by a two-thirds majority. Approval of the governor and views of the group of ministers appointed by the governor is required to conduct an inquiry into present or former ministers. Similarly, the approval of the Council chairperson or Assembly speaker is required to probe the Legislative member. The Lokayukta will require approval from the minister concerned to probe even the municipal corporator or sarpanch.

The draft has even brought IAS officials under the scope of the probe but the Lokayukta will require the approval of the chief minister and the views of the chief secretary to initiate the probe. “The filters will ensure no false complaints are filed,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra’s hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise

Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.

Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the ‘hinterlands’).

Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:

State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).

Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).

Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC’s OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.

Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness

Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.

Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.

Alok Deshpande’s rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
He tweets @alokdesh … Read More

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