Internship Experience @ Lokayukta, Uttar Pradesh; Filing Complaints; Jail Visits

Name

Anonymous

Name of the Organisation

Lokayukta, Uttar Pradesh, TC 46/v-01, Vibhutikhand, Gomtinagar, Lucknow

Duration of Internship

June 11, 2024 – July 11, 2024

How did you Apply?

I applied for this internship through an offline application process. I submitted an application to the Honourable Lokayukt of Uttar Pradesh along with my CV, a photocopy of my Aadhaar card, a hard copy of the no-objection certificate (NOC) I received from my college, and two passport-sized photographs. I submitted the hard copies of all these documents to the Lokayukt Uttar Pradesh office. I learned about this internship opportunity through LinkedIn, from one of my seniors connected with me on LinkedIn who told me about it.

The application procedure is very simple and is available only offline, not online or on any website. If you have all the documents I mentioned earlier and you submit them within the prescribed time period, you are guaranteed to get the internship opportunity with the Lokayukt department. Before submitting an application, remember that your NOC must be original; photocopies are not allowed. It should be issued by your college with the proper stamp of your college or university and the signature of the head of your department. Most importantly, the details you mention in your CV must be true and correct to your knowledge. Any ambiguity or false information regarding your knowledge, skills, experience, or other specialties may result in serious consequences, including dismissal from the internship.

This is a full-time internship, meaning you must maintain 100% attendance during the internship period. You are not allowed to be absent without prior approval. If you need to take leave, you must submit an application with a proper and reasonable cause. Holidays are allowed in rare cases because this internship is about learning with a proper day-by-day schedule. If you miss any tasks or lessons, you will be unable to make a proper report.

The Lokayukt Uttar Pradesh provides internship opportunities in two phases: two batches in summer and two batches in winter. For the summer internship program, the last date to apply for the May-June internship is May 10, and for the June-July internship program, the last date to apply is June 10. For the winter internship program, applications start in the first week of September, and classes begin strictly on the 11th of the month. If any student wants to take leave, they must write an application to the Honourable Lokayukt. The application should be typed; handwritten applications are not allowed. During any visit, no one is allowed to ask for leave because these visits are for practical knowledge and experience, which the organization wants all interns to gain.

There are two types of internships provided by the Lokayukt department: a 15-day internship program and a 1-month internship program. The maximum duration is 1 month, and the minimum duration is 15 days. Those who only want to know about the external workings of the Lokayukt can opt for the 15-day internship, which is a good option if you have limited time. It provides an understanding of the procedures and workings of the department but not in-depth knowledge due to the short duration. The 1-month internship program is a complete package where you learn about the organization, its pros and cons, its utility in society, its jurisdiction in the state, its working, its function, and its role in the legal field. If anyone is interested in applying, they should wait for the winter internship training program.

The working days of the Lokayukt department are quite friendly, as it operates only 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday. The classes for internship students run from Monday to Saturday. There are also extra leaves given to the interns, depending on the officials’ workload. Generally, holidays are announced when officials are too busy with their work to take classes. The notice of holidays is given officially on the WhatsApp group, in which all internship students of the June-July batch are added. We are provided a QR scanner to join the group just after submitting the application form.

First-Day Formalities, Infrastructure, and First Impression

On the first day of my internship at Lokayukt Uttar Pradesh, the session was presided over by the Honourable Lokayukt Sir, the chief of the Lokayukt department. In this session, the Honourable Lokayukt Sir informed us about the workings of the Lokayukt, including the organization’s functions, operations, powers, and responsibilities. The dress code for all interns was black pants, white shirts, and black blazers. Students were also allowed to wear the identity cards of their respective colleges. However, after the first day, the Honourable Lokayukt Sir permitted us to wear casual attire due to the intense summer heat, as it was too uncomfortable to wear blazers.

During the first day, Sir shared his experience of supervising internships for up to 28,000 students during his tenure as Lokayukt. He conducted classes for only two days because he had urgent work and had to travel out of the station. In those two days of training, he discussed his work and the high-profile cases he was currently handling, such as the Ekana Stadium ticket scam case of 2023.

Main Tasks

The main task of this internship is to prepare a report on how to file a complaint in the Lokayukt department. There are two types of complaints that can be filed in Lokayukt: allegations and grievances. We are required to create reports on both types.

Report on Complaint Based on Allegations

The first report we need to prepare is based on the guidelines mentioned in Section 9 of the Lokayukt Act, 1975. Complaints under Section 9 can be filed under 12 points:

1. Points 1-5: Information about the complainant.
2. Point 6: Information about the person against whom the complaint is made.
3. Point 7: Clarifies whether the complaint is an allegation or a grievance.
4. Point 8: Contains the challan number and date of deposit of the security.
5. Points 9-10: Information about the witnesses.
6. Point 11: List of documents attached with the complaint (e.g., original application form copy, original challan, affidavit of complainant and witnesses, bank details, evidence such as FIR copy, and copy of application given to other officers regarding the complaint).
7. Point 12: Detailed facts of the complaint, including the incident timeline from when the complaint arose to the date it was filed in Lokayukt.

Report on Complaint Based on Grievances

The second report focuses on grievances, which refer to complaints filed in Lokayukt by any individual suffering from maladministration by any government department or seeking compensation from a government department. Grievances relate to personal injury or rights violations due to the malicious acts of government officials.

The process of filing a grievance complaint is almost the same as filing a complaint of allegations, with the key difference being that no challan is required for grievance complaints. A challan is a type of security deposit of ₹2000 required for allegations complaints. Otherwise, the procedure is the same.

Differences Between Allegations and Grievances

1. Allegations: Defined in Section 2(b) of the Lokayukt Act, 1975. These can only be filed against government servants of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th classes. Allegations can be made when it is found that their earnings exceed their income, they are engaged in corruption, or they misuse their position. Misuse of position includes doing something they are not entitled to by using the power of their post. A challan of ₹2000 and an affidavit of ₹10 are required for allegations complaints. If there are any witnesses, their affidavits are also required. A complainant must submit three copies of the complaint to the Lokayukt department and keep one copy for themselves, totaling four copies. After filing the complaint, an investigation begins. The Lokayukt department sends a report of the case to the Secretary of the Chief Minister of the state, requesting a response within three months. If no response is received from the Secretary, the report is sent to the Governor of Uttar Pradesh under Section 12(5). This does not mean the Lokayukt needs permission from the Secretary or Governor, as the Lokayukt is an independent body. The report is sent to inform them that an investigation is being conducted against a state officer. If the officer is found guilty, a summons is issued by the Lokayukt. Regardless of the outcome, the ₹2000 challan is returned to the complainant.
2. Grievances: These are complaints related to personal injury or rights violations due to maladministration or malicious acts by government officials. No challan is required for grievance complaints.

In conclusion, preparing reports on how to file complaints in the Lokayukta department, specifically for allegations and grievances, is the main task of this internship. Understanding the guidelines and processes outlined in the Lokayukta Act, 1975, is crucial for accurately documenting these reports.

Work Environment

There is approximately a batch of 150 students in this internship, with learning hours from 11 AM to 2 PM. This internship not only includes learning about the functions and workings of the Lokayukta but also includes visits to various important institutions:

1. Visit to 1090 Helpline: We learn about the operations and functioning of the 1090 helpline.
2. Visit to 112 Helpline: We gain insights into how the 112 emergency helpline works.
3. Jail Visit: This provides a practical understanding of the correctional system and its operations.

In my opinion, this is one of the best internships with an excellent working environment, as it is conducted by a fully governmental organization.

Good Things about the Internship

It Includes some visits like jail visits, 1090 headquarter (women helpline) visit, 112 helpline headquarters visit.

Bad Things about the Internship

A downside of this internship is that there are some delays we have to face. For example, government officials often arrive late to conduct the internship classes. However, I believe this happens due to their busy schedules, as they have official duties in addition to training interns. Another issue is that no holidays are allowed for interns.

Monthly Stipend

No there is no stipend

Details about the Accommodation, Commuting to the Office

No accommodation, food, or travel allowances.

Anything Else You Want to Share?

In the last 4 to 5 days of my internship, I learned about the working process of the Lokayukta and how to file a complaint. I can now proudly say that I am capable of helping anyone seeking assistance from the Lokayukt, whether it is filing a complaint or addressing other related issues.

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Source: Lawctopus