KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday upheld the constitutional validity of the 2024 amendments to the Kerala Lokayukta Act, delivering a significant relief to the state government while also introducing a key safeguard on decision-making timelines.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice V.M. Syam Kumar dismissed petitions led by senior Congress MLA Ramesh Chennithala, who had challenged the amendments as unconstitutional and violative of the principle of separation of powers.
While upholding the amendments, the court ruled that if the competent authority fails to act on a Lokayukta report within three months (90 days), it would be deemed to have been accepted.
The Bench clarified that this interpretation must be read into Section 12 of the Act, which deals with the submission of reports and follow-up action.
The amendments, introduced by the second Pinarayi Vijayan government, had triggered widespread debate as they curtailed the Lokayukta’s powers, particularly its authority to recommend the removal of public officials found guilty of corruption.