Pulling up the Govt. of Tamil Nadu for not doing anything to set up Lokayuktha, the Supreme Court directed the State yesterday to immediately make arrangements to set up Lokayuktha instead of waiting for the Centre to enact its Lokpal Bill bringing those in power within the ambit of accountability for their actions, deeds and misdeeds.

Most of the States aren’t paying adequate attention to (the setting up of) Lokpal for obvious reasons.  The Lokpal Bill is meant to bring everyone from the Prime Minister to Union Ministers to State Ministers within the ambit of accountability zone.

In March, the apex Court had directed 12 States including Tamil Nadu to file their respective affidavits regarding setting up of Lokpal in their States/UTs.  When the case came up for hearing yesterday at the apex Court, the petition filed by the chief-secretary of Govt. of Tamil Nadu said that the State was taking its time in this regard for the Centre to pass the Lokpal Bill.

Not amused by the petition’s contents, the apex Court wondered when Tamil Nadu would start learning to ‘stand on its own legs’.  The Court also condemned the State Govt. for not making any fruitful efforts so far in setting up Lokayuktha in the State and directed the State to respond in this regard by 10th July on the action taken on the issue.