Notice to Centre on reconstitution of Lokpal Bill committee

Chennai, May 19: The Madras High Court on Wednesday, May 19 issued a notice to the Centre on a PIL seeking inclusion of a civil society member from the southern states in the committee formed to draft the Lokpal Bill.

Social worker K R Ramaswamy submitted that the committee, which would introduce the draft Bill in the next monsoon session, had no civil society activist from the South, mainly from Tamil Nadu where "corruption is at a high percentage compared to other states."

The petitioner said he had sent a representation to the Union government, urging reconstitution of the present panel by including civil society activists from the South.

When the petition came up for hearing today before the Bench of Justices S Rajeswaran and KBK Vasuki, the counsel, R Sureshkumar, on behalf of the Union of India took notice.

The matter is posted for further hearing on Jun 7.

PTI