New Delhi, Jul 4 (IANS): The government Monday said it was committed to bringing the anti-corruption Lokpal bill in the monsoon session of parliament beginning Aug 1 but could not specify when it would be passed because it would have to be referred to a standing committee for broader consensus.

This effectively means that the proposed ombudsman bill would have to wait for the winter session in mid-November to be passed.

"The government will table the bill in parliament in accordance with the established procedure," Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday.

Chidambaram and his cabinet colleagues -- Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal -- were addressing a joint press conference, a day after an all-party meeting on the Lokpal bill ended without a breakthrough on the contentious issue of including the prime minister within the ambit of the proposed legislation.

However, all parties agreed that a "strong and effective" bill should be introduced in the next session of parliament.

However, Chidambaram said that the "government is very happy with the all-party meeting yesterday".

"It took place in a very cordial atmosphere. And we are confident that we can take the process forward, bring the bill in the monsoon session and try to get it passed as soon as possible," the home minister said.

Stressing that the parliamentary procedures would not be overlooked for the legislation, Chidambaram said the draft bill prepared by the government would go through the concerned ministries and departments before being taken up by the cabinet.

"What was presented (at the all party meeting) is a draft. It will now go through the normal procedure. It will go to departments and ministries concerned. The cabinet will finalise the draft. The draft approved by the cabinet will be introduced in parliament."

Sibal said it would be referred to a standing committee for broader consensus where opposition parties can state their views on the bill.

Asked whether referring the bill to a standing committee would mean a delay, at least till the winter session, in seeing the measure through, Sibal said: "We had said we are committed to bring the bill. We will keep the promise. We never said it would be passed in the monsoon session."