Union Cabinet while clearing the amended Lokpal Bill on Thursday preferred to go with the political class than civil society activists. Giving in to the demands of political parties to delink appointment of Lokayuktas in states from Lokpal, the Centre has upheld in principle the demand of autonomy for states in the appointment of their respective ombudsmen. This invited immediate criticism from the activists with Anna Hazare and his one-time protégée Arvind Kejriwal claiming the bill was not strong enough to weed out corruption.
Including most of the changes recommended by the select committee of parliament, the Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming budget session. ‘We have accepted 14 out of 16 amendments proposed by the select committee. We did not approve two,’ Minister of State in the prime minister’s office V Narayanasamy told the media after the cabinet meeting.
The Select Committee recommended delinking of the creation of Lokayuktas from the Lokpal Bill. Significantly, the government has accepted the Committee’s recommendation to do away with setting up of the Lokayukta in the states and instead recommended provision for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by the state legislature, within a year of the bill coming into effect.
The highlight of the bill is that public servants will been given protection while facing a complaint lodged before the Lokpal. They will be given an opportunity to be heard at the stage of the preliminary inquiry. ‘Public servants will be given a chance to explain before an inquiry. People affiliated with political parties will not be on the Lokpal panel,’ said Narayanasamy.
The government has disagreed with the select committee’s view that the power to transfer CBI officials investigating the case of complaint lodged with the ombudsman should rest with the Lokpal. From the amended bill, religious and charitable institutions have been exempted and political parties too will be kept out of it’s purview.
Narayanasamy also said that the selection panel for the Lokpal will comprise the Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist. The jurist will be appointed by the president from a panel of three members recommended by other members of the selection committee.
Including most of the changes recommended by the select committee of parliament, the Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming budget session. ‘We have accepted 14 out of 16 amendments proposed by the select committee. We did not approve two,’ Minister of State in the prime minister’s office V Narayanasamy told the media after the cabinet meeting.
The Select Committee recommended delinking of the creation of Lokayuktas from the Lokpal Bill. Significantly, the government has accepted the Committee’s recommendation to do away with setting up of the Lokayukta in the states and instead recommended provision for setting up of the institution of Lokayukta through enactment of a law by the state legislature, within a year of the bill coming into effect.
The highlight of the bill is that public servants will been given protection while facing a complaint lodged before the Lokpal. They will be given an opportunity to be heard at the stage of the preliminary inquiry. ‘Public servants will be given a chance to explain before an inquiry. People affiliated with political parties will not be on the Lokpal panel,’ said Narayanasamy.
The government has disagreed with the select committee’s view that the power to transfer CBI officials investigating the case of complaint lodged with the ombudsman should rest with the Lokpal. From the amended bill, religious and charitable institutions have been exempted and political parties too will be kept out of it’s purview.
Narayanasamy also said that the selection panel for the Lokpal will comprise the Prime Minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India and an eminent jurist. The jurist will be appointed by the president from a panel of three members recommended by other members of the selection committee.