PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss on Saturday demanded that Tamil Nadu's AIADMK government set up anti-corruption body Lokayukta immediately.
Citing the Supreme Court's direction to Chief Secretaries of 12 states - including Tamil Nadu - to explain the reasons for not setting up Lokayukta, he said the state government should pass the necessary law immediately.
The former Union Minister said the state government need not wait for the Central government amend the Lokpal Act to set up Lokayukta as there is no connection between the two.
On March 23, the Supreme Court sought an explanation from 11 states - Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Puducherry - as to why they have not appointed any Lokayukta or Uplokayukta.
The bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R. Banumathi directed that the Chief Secretaries of 11 states and a UT to inform the court on the steps taken for the appointment of Lokayukta or Uplokayukta in two weeks' time.
The court order came on a petition filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and top court lawyer Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, seeking appoint of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayukta in the states.
Meanwhile in another development, the indefinite hunger strike by social activist Anna Hazare is set to continue further after he reportedly found the draft sent by the government to address to his demands "useless".
"We have received the draft from the government. But Annaji said it was useless as it has nothing new but old assurances. It is a routine document. At least, any minister should meet him," said Sushil Bhatt, a core committee member of Team Anna.
Earlier this week, Anna Hazare launched a fresh anti-corruption agitation with an indefinite fast in New Delhi’s sprawling Ramlila Maidan and vowed it to continue it till the Modi government comes up with an action plan on Lokpal appointment.
IANS inputs