Lokpal: Father coins name, son prepares the final draft

New Delhi: Father coined the word 'Lokpal' way back in 1963 and his son now heads the Standing Committee of Parliament which is entrusted with the job of looking into the Lokpal Bill against corruption.

It was L M Singhvi, a young independent member of Lok Sabha, who for the first time on April 3, 1963, while participating in a debate suggested the word Lokpal, which was the Indian version of "ombudsman", a Scandinavian word for a "grievance man".

The interesting piece of information was given in Rajya Sabha by Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley today.

"It is a coincidence that his very distinguished son, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, now has to prepare the final draft of this bill.

"I am sure, he will keep in mind the great heritage, not only his personal, but also of this concept, and strengthen the Bill in order to maintain this very strong heritage as far as this Bill is concerned," Jaitley said.

The Lokpal Bill was first introduced in 1968 by then Home Minister Y B Chavan. Jaitley said it was even passed by the Lok Sabha in 1969.

The concept of Lokpal was first brought out in 1966 by Administrative Reforms Commission which recommended the establishment of a Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill.

Jaitley said even the concept of Citizens Charter or public grievances is not a new system. This was also a part of the 1968 bill introduced by Chavan.

L M Singhvi was an Indian jurist and diplomat was elected to Rajya Sabha (1998-2004) as a BJP member.

PTI