Bhubaneswar, Feb. 11: The state government today introduced a bill, seeking to set up the institution of Lokayukta in the state to inquire into allegations of corruption against people holding high offices, including the chief minister and his council of ministers.

The bill will come up for discussion tomorrow.

The proposed Lokayukta will have six members and be headed by either a sitting or a retired Chief Justice of a high court. Besides the chairperson, it will have two other members from the judiciary and three others from public life.

The governor will appoint the chairperson and members on recommendation of a five-member selection committee, headed by the chief minister, Assembly Speaker, leader of Opposition, Chief Justice of high court or his nominee and an eminent jurist nominated by the governor. The term of office of the chairperson and members will be five years. The salary, allowances and other conditions of service of the chairperson will be the same as that of the Chief Justice of Orissa High Court. The other members receive salary and allowances as those of a high court judge.

Elected representatives such as MPs, MLAs or panchayati raj representatives will not be entitled to be part of the institution. A member shall not be less than 45 years old on the date of assuming office. Besides, the chairperson or a member shall not hold any office of trust or profit or shall not be connected with any political party and shall not carry on any business or profession.

The Lokayukta will constitute an inquiry wing and a prosecution wing. The inquiry wing will be headed by a director.

, who will conduct preliminary inquiry into corruption charges against people holding high offices. The prosecution wing will be headed by a director, who will take care of the cases in designated special courts. The special courts will have to ensure that trials are completed within a year.

The Lokayukta will have powers to inquire into allegations of corruption against chief minister, former chief ministers, ministers or former ministers, sitting or former MLAs, chairpersons or any member of an urban local body or a panchayat. It will also look into complaints against government officials. The Lokayukta and its investigating officer can provisionally attach property of any person accused of corruption, for a maximum period of 90 days. Every public servant is required to make a declaration of his assets and liabilities within 30 days of holding office.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kalpataru Das introduced the bill. The BJD claimed that Odisha was the first state in the country to bring a Lokayukta bill after the passage of the Lokpal in Parliament. Congress chief whip Prasad Harichandan said the government had brought the legislation in a hurry. The short session of Assembly is scheduled to end on February 13.