PREFACE

This internship report documents our 10-day internship at the Kerala Lok
Ayukta, spanning from 07 Dec 2023 to 20 Dec 2023. The report outlines the tasks
we undertook, offers insights into the Kerala Lok Ayukta's operations, and examines
the historical and evolving role and responsibilities to the society.

An internship serves as a structured learning experience aligned with

academic objectives. The stability and insights from the program were invaluable
during my internship, guiding my activities, focusing on desired outcomes, and
facilitating the evaluation of achieved results.

During our time at the Kerala Lok Ayukta, we gained a comprehensive

understanding of its functioning and the processes involved in handling individual
cases. Studying diverse cases allowed me to gain a broader perspective on life, a
practical knowledge that transcends the confines of a traditional classroom setting.

We extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone at the Kerala Lok Ayukta.

Despite their busy schedules, they generously dedicated their time to familiarize us
with the Kerala Lok Ayukta's operations.

This internship has been an enriching experience, deepening our

understanding of the Kerala Lok Ayukta's role in safeguarding the society from
corruption and keep a check and vigil on the executives.

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 INTERNSHIP REPORT
Kerala Lok Ayukta
1. Introduction

The Lokayukta is an anti-corruption ombudsman organization in Indian states.

This report details my experiences, learning, and contributions during my internship
at Lokayukta. The internship aimed to provide practical exposure to the functioning
of anti-corruption mechanisms and to understand the legal and administrative
processes involved.

The Lokayukta serves as a statutory authority to investigate and address

complaints of corruption and maladministration against public servants and
government officials. The primary objective is to enhance transparency,
accountability, and integrity in public administration.

The Lok Ayukta under the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999 (Act 8 of 1999) has
been constituted for investigating into the allegations of corruption and mal-
administration against public servants and for the speedy redressal of grievances of
the public.

2. Property Statement of Public Servants

The Act also provides that all public servants are required to submit their
statements of assets and liabilities, besides the statements in respect of those of the
members of their family, once in two years, before the competent authority, in the
forms prescribed by the Rules.

3. ORGANISATION OF KERALA LOK AYUKTA

(a). The institution of Lok Ayukta is conceived as an Ombudsman type

institution in India. ‘Lok Ayukta’ is a concept originated from the term ‘Ombudsman’,
who is the people’s procurator, an officer of the parliament, to investigate into the
grievances of the public about administrative wrongs and excesses. Ombudsman in
India is conferred with the functions of dealing with the grievances of the people
arising out of mal-administration and for fighting against corruption at administrative
and political levels.

(b). This device of combating mal-administration and corruption have been

proved effective particularly because the Indian experience was that mal-
administration invariably precedes corruption and both together constituted a great
strain on the economy.

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 (c). The Lok Ayukta under the Kerala Lok Ayukta Act, 1999 (Act 8 of 1999) has
been constituted for investigating into the allegations of corruption and mal-
administration against public servants and for the speedy redressal of grievances of
the public.

(d). Kerala Lok Ayukta Act is a successor legislation of the Kerala Public
Men’s Corruption (Investigations and Inquiries ) Act 1987 (Act 24 of 1988). All public
servants from the Chief Minister at the top to members of the panchayat at the
bottom are public servants coming within the purview of the Act. Similarly, there are
lakhs of such public servants holding public posts and who are answerable to this
forum. The Lok Ayukta and Upa Lok Ayuktas appointed under the Act are conferred
with solemn functions of investigating into the various acts of omissions and
commissions of such public servants.

(e). The Act also provides that all public servants are required to submit their
statements of assets and liabilities, besides the statements in respect of those of the
members of their family, once in two years, before the competent authority, in the
forms prescribed by the Rules.

(f). The forum is headed by the Lok Ayukta, who must either be a former
Judge of the Supreme Court or a Chief Justice of a High Court. Similarly there are
two Upa Lok Ayuktas who are former Judges of the High Court. The Lok Ayukta and
Upa Lok Ayuktas are appointed on the advice of the Chief Minister in consultation
with the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the Leader of the Opposition. Their
term of appointment is five years. In the matter of salary and allowances, they are
treated on par with sitting Chief Justice and Judges of the High Court, respectively.

(g). The registry of the Lok Ayukta is headed by the Registrar who is a District
Judge from the Kerala Higher Judicial Service on deputation, and consist of
Additional Registrar, Deputy Registrar and such other officers as fixed. The Deputy
Registrar is the Information Officer as provided under the Right to Information Act
and the Section Officer is the Assistant Information Officer.

(h). There is also an Investigation Agency attached to the Lok Ayukta, which
consists of an I.G of Police, a Superintendent of Police, Deputy Superintendents etc.
The Lok Ayukta can entrust investigation of complaints with any agency as it
chooses. From the short experience this institutions has been proved effective in
combating corruption in public life.

(i). Office of the Lok Ayukta is located at the Legislature complex, Palayam,
Thiruvananthapuram. There are regular sittings of Courts on all working days from
Monday to Friday, at Thiruvananthapuram. There are also camp sittings on a regular
basis at Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur. The office of the Lok Ayukta functions

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on all working days. Complaints, in prescribed forms, can be filed either at
Thiruvananthapuram or at camp sittings. Complaints can be filed through post also,
in the following address:
REGISTRAR,
KERALA LOK AYUKTA, LEGISLATURE COMPLEX,
VIKAS BHAVAN P.O. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – 33

(j). Camp sittings are conducted at the venues as given below:

(i). Kottayam : Conference Hall, Collectorate.
(ii). Ernakulam : Govt. Guest House Conference Hall, Ernakulam.
(iii). Kozhikode : Vigilance Tribunal, Kozhikode.
(iv). Thalassery : Rest House Conference Hall, Thalassery.
(v). Kannur : Govt. Guest House Conference Hall, Kannur.

(k). There is no tall claim that Lok Ayukta could eradicate corruption and mal-
administration. But within its limits, it acts as a watch dog. Anyone who is aggrieved
or interested in cleansing our public life, can approach the forum boldly. One can
approach the forum direct, even without the aid and assistance of a lawyer. There is
no formality, no fees; But he must have a genuine case.

4. THE DUTIES AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LOK AYUKTA

The Kerala Lokayukta is an anti-corruption authority constituted at the state

level in Kerala, India. Its primary role is to investigate allegations of corruption, mal-
administration, and misuse of power by public officials, including the Chief Minister,
ministers, legislators, and other government servants. Here are the key roles and
functions of the Kerala Lokayukta:
(a) Investigate Complaints: The Lokayukta investigates complaints of
corruption and maladministration against public officials. This includes issues
like abuse of power, illegal activities, and failure to act in the interest of the
public.
(b) Conduct Inquiries: Upon receiving complaints, the Lokayukta has the
power to conduct detailed inquiries and investigations. This includes
summoning witnesses, examining documents, and holding hearings.
(c) Recommend Actions: Based on the findings of the investigations, the
Lokayukta can recommend actions to be taken against guilty officials. These
recommendations are forwarded to the competent authorities for
implementation.
(d) Protect Whistleblowers: The Lokayukta plays a crucial role in
protecting whistleblowers who bring to light acts of corruption and
maladministration. This encourages more people to come forward with
complaints without fear of retribution.

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 (e) Advisory Role: The Lokayukta can act in an advisory capacity to the
state government on issues of corruption and governance. It provides
suggestions to improve transparency and efficiency in public administration.
(f) Public Awareness: The Lokayukta is also responsible for raising
public awareness about corruption and the mechanisms available to fight it.
This includes educating citizens about their rights and the procedures for filing
complaints.
(g) Monitor Implementation: The Lokayukta monitors the implementation
of its recommendations to ensure that appropriate actions are taken against
the guilty parties and that systemic changes are made to prevent future
instances of corruption.
(h) Preventive Measures: In addition to reactive measures, the Lokayukta
also focuses on preventive measures. This includes suggesting systemic
reforms and policies to reduce opportunities for corruption and enhance
accountability in public services.

Overall, the Kerala Lokayukta serves as a crucial institution in the state's

efforts to maintain integrity and accountability in public administration, ensuring that
public officials act in the best interest of the citizens they serve.

5. Day Wise Activity Report :

DAY 1 – 07 Dec 2023 : Today being the first day of our internship at Kerala Lok
Ayukta, the program co-ordinator welcomed us to the Lok Ayukta and gave a
detailed introduction about the office. She also explained about the various
branches/sections in the offices as well as the personalities and Hobble dignitaries of
Lok-Ayukta.

Day 2 - 08 Dec 2023 : Second day we got a opportunity to attending the division
bench of Lok Ayukta and it was headed by Cyrias Joseph sir. While attending the
court section we got a clear idea about the court proceedings. There is smooth
interaction between the judges and advocates. It was a very good experience for
us.

DAY 3 – 11 Dec 2023 : On third day our interns were send us to Shri Ashok Kumar,
Superintendent of Police . He is acting as investigation o cer of Kerala Lok Ayukta.
He take a detailed class about investigation process were done.That was a valuable
knowledge we gained.

Class regarding lokayukta act 1999.

State level statutory authority.

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Enquiry only ( no FIR, no investigation)

1. Function: grievance redress against public servants

2. Objective of Lok Ayukta act

Importance of sec 3,4, 6 ,8,10,12 and 14 of Kerala Lok Ayukta were explained to us
in depth.

DAY 4 – 12 Dec 2023 : In the fourth day, the interns were asked to learn the
functioning of Administrative section of the Lok Ayukta. This section deals with the
cases pertaining to various regions of Kerala. Certain case files were read by the
interns to learn about the procedure being followed at the Lok Ayukta to come to the
logical conclusion of the case.

DAY 5 – 13 Dec 2023 : On this day we had another opportunity attend the Library
section of the Lok Ayukta. In this section, the closed volumes of the cases and
judgments and copies of relevant acts were duly stocked. We had experienced the
appropriate stocking of important cases and judgments in this section.

DAY 6 – 14 Dec 2023 : On the sixth day ,we went to ling section . There was
madam of that section took a class about the proceeding of ling. And gave a book
for read which contains the proceedings of Lok Ayukta.

DAY 7– 15 Dec 2023 : Today being a library day, we were given the annual reports
of the Lok Ayukta and statutes pertaining to their role for study. We have learned the
various activities carried out by the Lok Ayukta through the reports.

DAY 8 – 18 Dec 2023 : On the eighth day we got a class from a court o cer. She
gave a crystal cut view about the actual proceedings of case of Lok Ayukta. It was
very useful for us. Rule 9(3) admitting the case. Govt pleader will be there for govt
employees.

Stages of case
1. Pleading stage
2. Evidence stage
3. Hearing stage : Rule 12(1) judgement
4. Stage ATR ( Action taken report)

Codempt of court procedure : The power of contempt procedure of Lok Ayukta

were explained to us in detail.

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DAY 9 – 19 Dec 2023 : Today we got a opportunity for attending the court hearing.
That was single bench were headed by Hon’ble Babu sir, Upa Lok Ayukta. Also the
same day we got chance to meet him. That was golden opportunity for us to
interact with him. He gave us lots of tips and ideas, career guidance about our
profession. He also share his experience to us. And that was really good.

Day 10 - 20 Dec 2023 : Today being the last day of our internship, we were given
guidance and support for Preparation and Submission of the internship report at
Kerala Lok Ayukta.

6. Learning Objectives Achieved :

Our internship at Kerala Lok Ayukta was an enriching as well as informative

experience. The internship at Kerala Lok Ayukta started on 07/12/2023 and ended
on 20/12/2023. We were a group of 10 students from Govt Law College, Trivandrum.

During the period of internship we have enriched ourselves through a

systematic mentoring by all the officers and staffs of the Lok Ayukta. We were given
us a detailed insight about the ethical considerations and challenges faced by anti-
corruption bodies. We understood the importance of impartiality, transparency, and
integrity in investigations.

The real life challenges faced by the Kerala Lok Ayukta are as follows:-
Complexity of Cases: Handling complex cases involving multiple parties and
extensive documentation.

Resource Constraints: Limited resources sometimes slowed down the

investigation process.

Legal Hurdles: Navigating through legal challenges and ensuring compliance

with procedural requirements.

7. Conclusion :

The internship at Lok Ayukta was an enriching experience that provided

valuable insights into the functioning of an anti-corruption body. It enhanced my
understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in combating
corruption. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the organization and for
the guidance provided by my supervisors.

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 INTERNSHIP REPORT

Kerala Lok Ayukta

___________________________________________________________________

Duration : 07 Dec 2023 to 20 Dec 2023

Students Details :
Ser
Roll No Name Class College
No
1 13 Anjali AM
2 33 Kristo Glison
3 38 Muhammed Fayis CM
4 54 Sona S Raj
5 61 Subramanyan R IVth Government Law
Semester/ College,
6 62 Sundaresan N 3 Year LLB Thiruvananthapuram
7 69 Babitha BL
8 71 Kannan U
9 72 Lisy B
10 74 Salima S

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 INTERNSHIP REPORT

Kerala Lok Ayukta

___________________________________________________________________

TABLE OF CONTENT

Sl No Description Page No
Preface 1
1 Introduction 2
2 Property Statement of Public Servants 2
3 ORGANISATION OF KERALA LOK AYUKTA 2
4 The Duties and the Functions of the Lok Ayukta 4
5 Daywise Activity Report 5
6 Learning Objectives Achieved 7
7 Conclusion 7

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 Acknowledgement

The internship opportunity we had with the Kerala Lok Ayukta,

Thiruvananthapuram was a great chance for learning and professional development.
Therefore, we consider ourself as a very lucky individuals as we were provided with
an opportunity to be a part of it. We are also grateful for having a chance to meet so
many wonderful people and professionals who led us through this internship period.

We are using this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude and special
thanks to the Senior Officers who in spite of being extraordinarily busy schedule with
her/his duties, took time out to hear, guide and keep me on the correct path and
allowing us to carry out our internship at their esteemed organisation and extending
during the training.

We express my deepest thanks to all staffs for taking active interest in

mentoring us & giving necessary advices and guidance and arranged all facilities to
make life easier. We choose this moment to acknowledge their contribution
gratefully.

We perceive as this opportunity as a big milestone in our career development.

We will strive to use gained skills and knowledge in the best possible way, and We
will continue to work on its improvement, in order to attain desired career objectives.
Hope to continue cooperation with all of you in the future.

Sincerely,

Internship Students

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