Lokpal bill: Key differences between government, civil society


New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) The anti-graft Lokpal bill was introduced in parliament Thursday amid vehement protests from the opposition. Civil society activists, led by Gandhian Anna Hazare, too criticised the government draft. Here are the key points of disagreement between the government and the civil society on the bill:

Prime Minister: The civil society wants the prime minister to be under the Lokpal's ambit. The government has kept the prime minister out of the Lokpal's purview, but he/she can be probed after demitting office. Opposition parties too are opposed to keeping the prime minister out of the Lokpal's ambit.

Higher judiciary: The civil society wants the Lokpal to have powers to probe the higher judiciary, including judges of the Supreme Court. The government has kept the higher judiciary out.

MPs: The government has excluded the acts of MPs inside parliament and in parliamentary committees outside the Lokpal's purview, which the civil society has opposed.

Lower bureaucracy: According to the government draft, only officers of joint secretary level and above are covered under the Lokpal. The civil society wants the entire bureaucracy to come within the Lokpal's purview.

CBI and CVC: The government has struck down civil society's proposal to merge the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) with the Lokpal.

Punishment: The civil society has proposed minimum one year rigorous imprisonment and maximum of life imprisonment for the corrupt. The government has capped the maximum punishment at 10 years.

Lokayukta: The civil society wants the appointment of Lokayuktas, the ombudsmen in states, to be overseen by the Lokpal, which the government has struck down.


 

  

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  • S.K. Chakraborty, Kolkata

    Thu, Aug 04 2011

    As per Indian Constitution, each and every Indian is under law. When corruptions are down the level IE PANCHAYET to highest ution level of Cabinet Ministers and judiciary ,the Lokpal Bill may please be passed by the Honorable Members of the Parliament without any color or the Party politics. Every MP should take the matter in their mind that those who are in power now ,may sit on opposition. The LAW will remain.The passing of the bill must be bright day for the people of India as a whole. Law is made for the people,of the people and by the people. Adherence to the opinion of the Indian Society is absolutely necessary to protect the wealth of the country/people in general by only a few powerful so called honored ones.Those monies accumulate huge black money which ultimately break down the entire economy of the country as also control the money market,price level. As a result of corruption,even RBI could not control the huge price hike despite several times hike in the repo/reverse Rep o rate in the recent past. Accordingly,Govt. may be more careful to plug hole the route of corruption before passing the Lokpal Bill. BILL may not be passed to protect some most powerful men who has the scope to defraud the COUNTRY. Think twice.

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