Mumbai, Jan 17 : The number of corruption complaints received by the Lokpal has increased steadily over the last two years, reflecting growing citizen awareness and engagement, Lokpal Chairperson Justice A.M. Khanwilkar said on Friday.
Addressing the Foundation Day of the anti-corruption ombudsman, Justice Khanwilkar said the projected number of complaints for 2025–26 shows an exponential rise compared to those registered in 2024–25. “The rise in complaints is not just a statistic it is a reflection of increased citizen engagement,” he said.
He noted that citizens are becoming more aware of their rights and moral responsibilities and are increasingly confident about approaching the Lokpal for redressal. “Every citizen is a ground soldier in the fight against corruption. If they choose to remain silent, that silence too is a form of corruption,” he said.
Justice Khanwilkar also highlighted improved institutional efficiency, stating that the number of sittings held by Lokpal benches has risen consistently, enabling quicker handling of cases and minimal pendency. This, he said, has ensured timely and effective disposal of complaints.
“We accept our responsibility to be transparent, consistent and accountable, but we also recognise our duty to be just. True justice demands patience, not performance,” the Lokpal chairperson said, adding that the institution’s independence lies in how quietly and courageously it exercises its mandate.
The Foundation Day event was held at the Lokpal’s office premises. An official statement said that while Lokpal Day 2025 had been commemorated as a major public event at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi, this year’s celebration was held in-house due to budgetary austerity measures.
Judicial members Justice Lingappa Narayana Swami, Justice Sanjay Yadav and Ritu Raj Awasthi, along with non-judicial members Sushil Chandra, Pankaj Kumar and Ajay Tirkey, attended the event. The programme began with the welcoming of Justice Khanwilkar, followed by ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Saraswati Vandana’.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Swami said Lokpal Day marked an important milestone in India’s democratic journey. “This day is an opportunity to reflect on why the institution was created, assess the progress made so far, and reaffirm our commitment to integrity, accountability and transparency in public life,” he said.
During the event, a newly built state of the art data centre of the Lokpal was inaugurated. According to a statement from the Personnel Ministry, the facility will enable end to end, paperless and digitised processing of complaints, enhancing efficiency while ensuring confidentiality.