Allahabad HC summons government over Lokpal Bill

Allahabad, April 20: The "Lokpal Bill" has most likely hit another hurdle as the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court, has issued a notice to the Indian government to explain how and why drafting committee for the Lokpal bill was formed.

The bench was acting on a petition filed by advocate Asok Pande and social activist Nutan Thakur.

Questioning the formation of the Lokpal drafting committee, the bench has asked the government, "Why was this measure taken when it is not provided in the constitution? Was there any pressure and is the act going to curtail the rights of private individuals as some extra-constitutional body is now trying to represent them?"

Fixing May 16 as the next date of hearing, the court has granted the government, three weeks time to respond to the posers.

Claiming the formation of the drafting committee as beyond the law, the petitioners have said in the plea, "The central government started a completely new process by granting extra-constitutional authority to Anna Hazare to nominate a few persons as his nominees for the so-called Joint Drafting committee."

OneIndia News