PM out of Lokpal ambit
New Delhi: The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the much-debated Lokpal Bill keeping the office of the Prime Minister outside its purview notwithstanding incumbent Manmohan Singh’s insistence on subjecting himself to its scrutiny.
The Bill, to be introduced in Parliament in the first two days of the Monsoon Session beginning Monday, also keeps out the judiciary and the conduct of MPs in Parliament from its purview.
After discussions lasting 90 minutes, the Cabinet gave the nod for the Bill politely turning down Singh’s suggestion that the office of the Prime Minister be included in the legislation on the ground that it would lead to uncertainty and political instability.
The decision on the Bill comes less than three months after civil society activists led by Anna Hazare started an agitation at Jantar Mantar demanding a legislation that would include PM, judiciary, conduct of MPs in Parliament besides others.
At the Cabinet meeting, besides ministers from Congress, representatives of the NCP and the Trinamool Congress favoured keeping the office of the Prime Minister outside the purview of the Lokpal.
UPA ally DMK had spoken for bringing the Prime Minister within the ambit of Lokpal but Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister M K Alagiri was not present at the meeting today.
Anna Hazare and his team were quick to dismiss the Bill cleared by the Cabinet as a “cruel joke” on the people.
Hazare also announced that he would go on a fast from August 16 to protest against the bill saying the government has betrayed the people.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, Law Minister Salman Khursheed said the Bill approved by the Cabinet had included 34 of the 40 suggestions made by Hazare’s representatives, including provisions that empower the Lokpal to probe any Union Minister or officials of Group A and above without any sanction.
He said suggestions of Team Anna on autonomy of the Lokpal and its funding from the Consolidated Fund of India on the lines of the Supreme Court have also been accepted by the government.
The Lokpal consisting of Chairperson and eight members, half of them judicial, will have its own prosecution and investigation wing with officers and staff necessary to carry out its functions.
The Chairperson would be a sitting or retired Chief Justice of India. (PTI)
