(1) This Act may be called the Punjab Lokpal Act, 1996.
1For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated the 23rdDecember, 1996, page 1758-1759.
2For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Punjab Government Gazette (Extraordinary), dated the 18thDecember, 1997, page 2820.
3Omitted by Punjab Act No. 1 of 1998, Section 2 Short title and commencement.
(2) It shall come into force immediately.
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -
(a) "competent authority" in relation to a complaint against a public man means the Governor;
(b) "complaint" means a complaint alleging that a public man has, while holding any of the offices referred to in clause (k) committed misconduct;
(c) "complaint against a legislator" means a complaint alleging misconduct by a person who, at the time of the alleged commission of such misconduct was a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the State;
(d) "corruption" includes anything made punishable under Chapter IX of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 or under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988;
(e) "Governor" means the Governor of the State of Punjab;
(f) "High Court" means the High Court of Punjab and Haryana;
1[(g) "Lokpal" means a person appointed as such under section 4 of this Act].
2[(h) "Minister" means a member of the Council of Ministers by whatever name called, for the State of Punjab, that is to say the Chief Minister,Minister, Minister of State and Deputy Minister;]
(i) "Misconduct" means misconduct (whether committed before or after the commencement of this Act or within or outside India) of the nature specified in Section 3;
(j) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rule made under this Act;
(k) "Public man" means a person who holds or has held the office of:-
(i) a Minister;
3[(i-a) The Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Parliamentary Secretary;]
1Substituted by Punjab Act No. 1 of 1998, Section 3 2Substituted by Punjab Act No. 2 of 2010, Section 2 (a) 3Inserted by Punjab Act No. 2 of 2010, Section 2 (b) Definitions.
(ii) a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the State;
(iii) The Chairman and a Member of a Board constituted by or under the State or Central Act or otherwise;
(iv) The Chairman of any Government company within the meaning of section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956, in which not less than fifty one per cent of the paid-up share capital is held by the State Government or any company which is subsidiary of a company in which not less than fifty one per cent of the paid-up share capital is held by the State Government;
(v) The Chairman and a Member of any nonstatutory Committee nominated by the State Government;
1[(vi) The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the Zila Parishad constituted under the Punjab Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, including its officials;
(vii) Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor, Deputy Mayor of a Municipal Corporation constituted under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act, 1976, including its officials; and
(viii) The President and the Vice-President of a Municipal Council or Nagar Panchayat constituted under the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, including its officials.]
(l) "Public servant" shall have to same meaning as given in Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860; and 2[(m) “Up-Lokpal” means a person appointed as such under section 4 of this Act.]