Govt readies Lokpal bill, to be tabled in Cabinet on Jul 28

New Delhi, Jul 28: As the government readies to table the lokpal bill on Thursday, Jul 28, the anti-corruption activists launched an agitation for a robust version of the law to set up a lokpal. The activists contended that the present draft was ineffective. Govt sources indicated that the cabinet would have a chance to observe the civil society view point on the former's powers. The stance would be put out in the cabinet papers distributed before the meeting ,but would be devoid of support from the ministerial panel that presented the draft.

“In its present form, the government"s version of the lokpal bill is too weak and ineffective," social activist Anna Hazare, who was also member of the drafting committee, said. “It has a very narrow jurisdiction."

The government had constituted a drafting committee having ministers and members of NGO India Against Corruption to finalise lokpal bill but they failed to reach a consensus. After that, the ministers finalised a draft lokpal bill for the Cabinet's consideration.

Team Anna had demanded inclusion of the PM, higher judiciary and civil servants to fall under the ambit of the proposed lokpal, which the ministers did not agree.

OneIndia News