Lokpal Bill examining anti-corruption mechanism

Lokpal Bill examining anti-corruption mechanism and Anna Hazare Sends an Ultimatum to PM for for growing menace of corruption in high places scams unfolding every week needs to be counter checked with right bill proper enactment of law and policy with-its adequate application and in this context address the Media Demanding enactment of a strong anti-corruption law on the lines of Jan Lokpal Bill, Anna Hazare has given an ultimatum to the Prime Minister If the Prime Minister does not act decisively by the end of March, will
undertake an indefinite fast from 5th April at Jantar Mantar.

n a letter written to the Prime Minister, Anna Hazare has trashed the Group of Ministers and Committee of Secretaries set up by the government. “How could the officials and politicians draft an anti-corruption law against themselves?” questioned Anna addressing a press conference today. At least half of the members of the committee meant to draft the law should be from civil society. “Include eminent lawyers, retired judges, journalists. Use the services of those who have drafted the Jan Lokpal Bill.”


Many people including Anna Hazare, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Swami Ramdev, Kiran Bedi, Arch Bishop Vincent M Concessao, Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, Arvind Kejriwal, Swami Agnivesh, Sunita Godara, Devinder Sharma, Kamal Jaswal of Common Cause, Pradeep Gupta representing PAN IIT etc, had written a letter to the Prime Minister on 1st December requesting that Jan Lokpal Bill be enacted. Jan Lokpal Bill, drafted by Prashant Bhushan, Justice Santosh Hegde and Arvind Kejriwal and supported by Lyngdoh, Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi and many others prescribes swift, certain and harsh punishment for the corrupt. However, the PM has not even acknowledged the letter.All these people have come together as “India Against Corruption (IAC).” IAC had organized massive rallies demanding enactment of Jan Lokpal Bill on 30th January in 62 cities across the country. In Delhi alone, there were more than 25,000 people.PTI Reports A committee set up by the government to give more teeth to the Lokpal Bill is examining the anti-corruption mechanism under which even the prime minister will be open to scrutiny.The Committee of Secretaries on Lokpal Bill, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, met here recently to consider suggestions to provide more teeth to the proposed legislation.Sources in the government said the meeting considered suggestions by private individuals and NGOs to make the mechanism more effective.

One of the criticism is that the Lokpal will not have any power to either initiate action suo motu in any case or even receive complaints of corruption from general public.The public will make complaints to the Speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairperson of Rajya Sabha. Only those complaints forwarded by Speaker of Lok Sabha or Chairperson of Rajya Sabha to Lokpal would be investigated by Lokpal.This, some feel, will severely restrict the functioning of the Lokpal.

Some NGOs have also objected to the restriction of the three-member panel of Lokpal to retired judges and they want eminent people from other walks of life to be part of the Lokpal panel.The government is keen on giving a "final shape" to the Bill in the coming days.

A Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee formed recently to suggest means to tackle corruption plans to come out with concrete suggestions on the Bill by the Budget Session beginning tomorrow so that the proposed legislation can be discussed with opposition parties to evolve a consensus.Other members of the Committee of Secretaries include, the Home Secretary, Secretary, DoPT, the Law Secretary and Secretary Legislative Affairs - who is responsible for vetting Bills before they are sent for Cabinet''s approval.