ORGANIZATION:
In order to redress the grievances of the citizens which were pouring more in number, the Administrative Reforms Commission, appointed by the Union Government in 1966, recommended the constitution of the Institutions of Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta, taking a clue from the Institution like OMBUDSMAN in the Scandinavian countries. In the light of those recommendations, the Institutions of Lok Ayukta were established in various States of our country with jurisdiction to deal with complaints not only against elective public servants, but also against the other categories of public servants defined in the Act.

In Andhra Pradesh, the A.P. Lokayukta Act 11 of 1983 came into force with effect from 1-11-1983 and this Institution started functioning from 15-11-1983 and since then this Institution has been able to march forward as an effective instrument in the hands of the public for curbing the evil of corruption and maladministration.

SALIENT FEATURES OF THE INSTITUTION:

The most prominent features of the Institution of Lokayukta in this State are:
i) Independence from Executive Control;
ii) Informal procedure and easy accessibility to complaints; and
iii) Almost free and prompt services to the citizens.

FUNCTIONS & DUTIES:

The matters and actions of Public servants, which can form the subject matter of the complaint to the Institution of Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta, are:
1) Any administrative action involving abuse of power for personal gain or to harm any one;
2) Administrative actions motivated by improper or corrupt motives causing loss to the State or to any person; and
3) All actions involving outright corruption or lack of integrity.

There are three modes for the Lokayukta and the Upa-Lokayukta to act for taking up investigation of Administrative actions of the nature as stated above.

Firstly, any citizen or aggrieved person can make a complaint. Secondly, the Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta suo-moto can take up investigation on the basis of information received by him otherwise than by way of complaints like newspapers, reports, etc. Thirdly, the Lokayukta or Upa-Lokayukta can act on a reference from the Governor.
For the purpose of conducting an investigation in accordance with the provisions of the Act, the Governor appoints a Judge or a retired Chief Justice of High Court to act as Lokayukta and one or more District Judges to act as Upa-Lokayuktas.

ADMINISTRATION

The administration of the Institution is under the charge of the Registrar who is declared as the Head of the Department. The administrative structure consists of four wings viz., (1) Administration, (2) Judicial, (3) Legal and (4) Investigation.

1. ADMINISTRATION WING:

The Registrar, with the assistance of the Deputy Registrar, supervises the Administrative Wing, which consists of the Establishment and Accounts Section. The Establishment Section is headed by a Section Officer and it deals with the work relating to Conditions of Service of the Employees, Library, Stores, Furniture, Maintenance of Motor Vehicles, Stationery, Roneo, Inward, Dispatch, etc. The Accounts Section functions under the supervision of an Assistant Registrar, who is assisted by an Accounts Officer and other staff, and deals with financial matters such as budget, salary, T.A., and other related matters.

2. JUDICIAL WING:

For the sake of convenience, the Bench of the Hon’ble Lokayukta is identified as B-1 and that of the Hon’ble Upa-Lokayukta as B-2. The Complaints Section receives the complaints, scrutinizes the same and registers the complaints for placing them before the Hon’ble Lokayukta. This Section is headed by the Assistant Registrar, who is assisted by a Section Officer and other staff members. After registration of complaints, the complaints are taken up by the staff of the B-1 Section and B-2 Section respectively, headed by the Section Officers, with supporting staff.

Besides, the Special Category Stenographers would assist in taking down dictation of the orders on Bench of the Hon’ble Lokayukta and Hon’ble Upa-Lokayukta. This apart, there is usual Process Sections separately for B-1 and B-2 sections to process
the files as per the orders of the Hon’ble Lokayukta and Hon’ble Upa-Lokayukta and Dispatch the letters, notices, memos etc., to the concerned with the support of Dispatching Assistant.

3. LEGAL WING:

Legal Wing consists of Director (Legal) and Deputy Director (Legal). Both assist the Hon’ble Lokayukta and the Hon’ble Upa-Lokayukta respectively, in all legal matters such as processing the reports received and presenting them before the Court and render assistance to the complainants in conducting the proceedings. Even if a complainant is not having the legal assistance, that deficiency is filled up by the Legal Wing. The Director (Legal) and the Deputy Director (Legal) also perform the duties of Presenting Officers in the Courts and would assist in conducting final investigation by the Hon’ble Lokayukta and Hon’ble Upa-Lokayukta by way of submitting Written Comments, Written Briefs, etc., during the preliminary verification stage and draft statement of allegations, etc., when it reaches the final investigation stage.

4. INVESTIGATION WING:

The Director (Investigation), who is of the rank of Inspector General of Police, is heading this wing with the assistance of (4) Deputy Directors, (5) Investigating Officers and (13) Police Constables. This Agency probes into such of the complaints that are referred to it, by the Hon’ble Lokayukta and Hon’ble Upa-Lokayukta and after collecting the necessary material by conducting discreet enquiries, submit a report, which is of immense help in determining as to whether it is a fit case to investigate into the allegation levelled in the complaints or otherwise. This agency maintains the confidentiality and secrecy of information during the discreet enquiry and conducts the probe impartially.

ACCOMMODATION

The Institution of Lokayukta is presently accommodated in the Government Building bearing No.5-9-49, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad. The building consists of two parts. Nearly half of the built up area consists of heritage structure and the remaining is subsequently constructed.