PANAJI
The Goa Lokayukta has laid bare gaps in both accountability among public functionaries and the institution’s own enforcement capacity, with several elected representatives failing to submit mandatory statements of their assets and liabilities. Moreover, the anti-corruption watchdog continues to function with just 18 of its sanctioned 67 posts filled.
The annual report 2024-25 tabled on the floor of the House stated that under Section 21 of the Goa Lokayukta Act, 2011, public functionaries are required to declare their assets and liabilities on assuming office and subsequently every year. The annual report for 2023-24 records that the Lokayukta received declarations from 40 MLAs, seven councillors of the Corporation of the City of Panaji, 36 municipal councillors, 14 Zilla Panchayat members and 179 village panchayat members.
However, the report made it clear that not all public functionaries covered by the law complied with the mandatory disclosure requirement. The Lokayukta, acting under Section 21(2), submitted a report on the non-compliance to the Governor on December 12, 2024, requesting that the matter be placed before the Legislative Assembly.
The names of the public functionaries who failed to file their statements for 2023-24 were subsequently published in local newspapers on May 1, 2026.
The data comes against the backdrop of the Lokayukta itself being severely short-staffed. Against a sanctioned strength of 67 posts, only 18 were filled, leaving 49 vacancies, according to the staffing position recorded in the report.
Among the vacant posts are Secretary to the Lokayukta, Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendent of Police, two Private Secretaries, two Enquiry Officers, Prosecuting Officer, Legal Officer, two Police Sub-Inspectors, System Programmer, Legal Assistant, Librarian, Police Writer and Chief Technical Examiner.
The police wing is particularly thin. Of the sanctioned posts of one Superintendent of Police, one Deputy Superintendent of Police, one Police Inspector, four Head Constables, eight Police Constables and two Police Sub-Inspectors, only the Police Inspector, one Head Constable and two Police Constables were shown as filled.
The institution also has no sanctioned post filled for its two Police Orderlies, while four of the five sanctioned driver posts are filled only through outsourced or contractual arrangements. Several clerical and support positions also remain vacant.
The report further showed that even some of the posts shown as filled are being manned through retired personnel on contract or additional charge. The Registrar is a retired Superintendent of District and Sessions Court working on contract, while the Bench Clerk is a retired court employee on contract. The Accountant is holding additional charge.
