New stand in drafting of Lokpal Bill

NEW DELHI: After long ups and downs the Standing Committee of Parliament has agreed to include the lower bureaucracy within the anti-corruption body’s ambit, but under the state Lokayuktas, while whether to include the Prime Minister has been left to the wisdom of Parliament.

By the strong demanding positions by the team Anna on the Lokpal Bill, the Standing Committee is ready with the final draft that is expected to be adopted on Wednesday.

According to sources, 57 lakh odd Central government employees will not be under the Lokpal. They will instead be under the CVC.

State government Group C and D employees will be under their respective Lokayuktas.
The inclusion of the Prime Minister has been left to Parliament as there is no consensus in the committee.

The government is open to the option of including the Prime Minister, but he cannot be held responsible for any decisions taken by a minister.

The judiciary will be included not in the Lokpal, but in the Judicial Accountability and Standards Bill. The CBI, too, is not included in the Lokpal report for now.

Even though six dissenting notes have been given in the 31 member committee, the Congress insists the report reflects the sense of the House.

Team Anna says it’s a do or die for the government. But the Opposition, especially the BJP, had given a dissenting note on at least 14 issues.