Six months Extension for filing of property returns under Lokpal: Second Amendment Order, 2015

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS

(Department of Personnel and Training)

ORDER

New Delhi, the 12th October, 2015

S.O. 2794(E).—Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), made the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 (hereinafter referred to as the said Order) with effect from the 15th February, 2014 for the purpose of carrying out modifications and amendments in the relevant rules regulating the filing of property returns and  making of declaration of assets by public servants so as to bring them in conformity with the provisions of the said Act,  within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days from 16th January, 2014, i.e., the date on which the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force;

And whereas, the said Order was amended vide notifications number S.O. 1840(E), dated the 14th July, 2014; S.O. 2256(E), dated 8th September, 2014; S.O. 3272(E), dated 26th December, 2014 and S.O. 1096(E), dated the 27th April, 2015 extending the said period respectively to a period not exceeding two hundred and seventy days; three  hundred and sixty days; eighteenth months; and twenty-one months;

And whereas, the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to amend, inter alia, the provisions of section 44 of the said Act was introduced in the Lok Sabha on 18th December, 2014 and has been  referred to the Department related Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for examination and its Report is awaited;

And whereas, the circumstances enumerated in the earlier Orders which necessitated extension of the said period still continue;

And whereas, the Central Government has decided to extend the said period for filing of property returns and  making of declaration of assets by public servants for a further period of six months;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment further to amend the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014, namely:–

1. (1) This Order may be called the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Second Amendment Order, 2015.

(2) It shall come into force on the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.

2. In the said Order, in paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), for the words “within a period not exceeding twenty one months”, the words “within a period not exceeding twenty-seven months” shall be substituted.

[No. 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) I]

JISHNU BARUA, Jt. Secy.

Note.—The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 was published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, vide notification number S.O. 409(E), dated the 15thFebruary, 2014 and subsequently amended vide numbers S.O. 1840(E), dated the 15th July, 2014, S.O. 2256(E), dated the 8th September, 2014, S.O. 3272(E), dated the 26th December, 2014 and S.O. 1095(E), dated 27th April, 2015.