Shimla: The Lokayukta bill was passed in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Friday in the absence of the Opposition Congress. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal described it as “more stronger and constitutional than Uttarakhand's bill”.


Dhumal said, "Uttarakhand's bill has not so far been given assent by the President due to some legal hitches, but our bill is fully constitutional and comprehensive".


The Bill was introduced in the assembly on Wednesday. But the debate on the Bill was scheduled for Friday.


However, Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal had criticised the bill prepared by Himachal Pradesh saying it as "very weak and ineffective". He had asked the state government to follow the Uttarakhand system of Lokayukta.


Dhumal said that the draft prepared by his government gives more power to the Lokayukta covering all the departments under its ambit. The bill also gives the Lokayukta powers of contempt of court on par with the high court by incorporating a new clause, he added.

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