Lokpal draft approved; to be tabled on Dec 22

New Delhi, Dec 20: The Lokpal bill prepared by government will be tabled in both houses of Parliament on Dec 22 as the Winter Session of the Parliament being extended till Dec 29 to pass the anti-graft bill.

Meanwhile, cabinet has approved the bill after an hour-long meeting in the parliament house on Dec 20 evening. Moreover, the government made it clear that Prime Minister has been included under the ambit of Lokpal but excluded the CBI and the lower bureaucracy.

Sources said that the Lokpal can only prosecute on cases referred by it to investigating agencies. It is also learnt that the government is also proposing to set up Directorate of Public Prosecution and relieve the investigating agencies of the powers to prosecute.

Moreover, the Directorate of Prosecution will stay with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while vigilance powers of various departments will remain the same. Government will not give administrative power to Lokpal over CBI in proposed Lokpal bill.

Sources also said that only corruption cases referred by Lokpal to the CBI can be under subservience of the Lokpal. Moreover, approved bill kept lower bureaucracy under the Central Vigilance Commissioner with the superintendency of the Lokpal. Meanwhile, the Lokpal bill is likely to be tabled on Thursday, Dec 22 in both houses of Parliament.

OneIndia News