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Cabinet approves Lokpal bill amendments
Thursday January 31, 2013 06:21:46 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: The cabinet
Thursday accepted the separation of Lokayukta in the states from
the Lokpal at the centre, while accepting 14 of 16 amendments
recommended by a select panel of members of the Rajya Sabha on the
proposed bill to institute an anti-graft ombudsman, Lokpal.
"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 reporters after the
cabinet meeting.
The bill will now be put to vote in the Rajya Sabha, and will also
return to the Lok Sabha with the new amendments, Narayanasamy
said.
The Lok Sabha had approved the Lokpal bill in 2011, but it got
stuck in the upper house. In May 2012 it was referred to the
select panel.
Given that two amendments recommended by the select panel have
been turned down by the government, officials facing a preliminary
probe will be given a hearing under the present draft of the bill,
and the Lokpal will also have no power to transfer CBI officials
investigating a case referred by it.
The prime minister's office, Narayanasamy said, will also be under
the Lokpal, with some riders related to national security and
external affairs.
According to the minister, the state government will have to enact
a law for setting up an institution of Lokayukta within a year of
the centre passing the Lokpal bill.
The selection panel for the Lokpal will comprise the prime
minister, Speaker of the Lok Sabha and leader of opposition in the
Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India, and an eminent jurist, the
minister said.
He said charitable institutions aided by the government will also
come under the ambit of the anti-graft ombudsman.
On the selection of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
director, the minister said it will be done by the prime minister,
the leader of opposition in the lower house and the chief justice.
The minister also said that a person affiliated with any political
party would not qualify to be a member of the proposed Lokpal.
The bill also proposes that director prosecution of the CBI be
selected by the chief vigilance commissioner.
"I am happy to say the cabinet has given the seal of approval. The
select committee recommendations have broadly been accepted," Law
Minister Ashwani Kumar told reporters.
Earlier this week, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson
Sonia Gandhi wrote to social activist Anna Hazare assuring him
that the legislation would be passed in the coming budget session
of parliament.
"It is for the parliament to decide on the bill," Narayanasamy
said.
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