The Lok Pal Bill update

The draft report of the standing committee on the Lokpal Bill has proposed the exclusion of all judiciary from the ambit of Lokpal, but has asked for a new law to ensure transparency in the appointment of judges and policing and prosecuting “corruption” in the judiciary. The report has also recommended exclusion of the lower bureaucracy and citizens’ charter from Lokpal, while asking for a new procedure to investigate and launch prosecution in corruption cases. The 179-page report will be circulated and discussed among members on Wednesday when the committee is expected to decide whether the Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO) should come under Lokpal or not. The parliamentary committee, headed by Abhishek Manu Singhvi, has held 14 meetings aggregating 35 hours to prepare its report – which also proposes setting up of Lokayuktas in states along the lines of the Lokpal. It has pitched for a single Lokpal with Lokayukats in states, while making a case for a uniform law across the country. With this, the report has incorporated only one of the three conditions of the Anna Hazare camp – setting up Lokayuktas in states. It has not met the other two demands – inclusion of lower bureaucracy and citizens’ charter. (Citizens’ charter is fixing the time frame to redress public grievances. This is being tackled under a separate Public Grievances Redressal Bill.)