Bhubaneswar, August 11: Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari on Tuesday said that the Government will appointment a new Lokayukta very soon.

“The first meeting of the three-member selection committee comprising the Chief Minister, Odisha Assembly Speaker and Leader of Opposition has been convened, meaning thereby the process for appointment of a new Lokayukta has already started. In such appointments, the selection is done unanimously. So, Odisha will get a new Lokayukta very soon,” said Pujari.

He also hit out the BJD, the main opposition force in the State, for targeting the State Government for the inordinate delay on the part of the BJP Government in appointing Lokayukta.

Notably, the Chairperson, one judicial member and two other members of the Lokayukta retired on March 19, March 30, April 3 and August 8, 2024, respectively. Since then, the anti-corruption body has become defunct.

Under Section 6 of the Odisha Lokayukta Act, 2014, the appointment process is required to be initiated by the Governor at least three months before the completion of the tenure of the Chairperson and other members.

In January this year, the Orissa high granted the State Government six weeks' time for appointing Chairperson and five members in Odisha Lokayukta.

The Lokayukta was created on February 28, 2019 to investigate corruption charges against public functionaries, including those in high office.

According to data, the Lokayukta had registered 444 cases in 2024, out of which 149 were disposed of. In 2025 (up to May 31), 83 fresh cases were registered, all of which remain pending due to non-functioning of the panel.