The Goa government has still not appointed a new Lokayukta after the term of Justice (Retd) Ambadas Joshi ended in December 2024. Since then, the Lokayukta office has been non-functional, even though the anti-corruption body exists in law. This delay suits the government. One way to weaken the Lokayukta is simply not to appoint its head. Without a Lokayukta, no investigations or actions can move forward.
All investigative agencies in the state work under the government and are monitored by the political leadership. There is no independent agency allowed to file corruption cases against gazetted officers without prior approval from the government. Even the vigilance department is part of the state police, which is controlled by the Chief Minister’s Office.
Recently, former ministers Govind Gaude and Pandurang Madkaikar openly criticised the level of corruption in government departments. Madkaikar even claimed that officials were looting the state and admitted that he had to pay bribes to get his own work done. If the government truly believes in democracy and wants to provide clean and transparent governance, it must act quickly to appoint a new Lokayukta.
