Lokpal Bill
Introduction |
The
word Lokpal means an ombudsman in India. The word
has been derived from the Hindi words "lok" (people) and
"pal" (protector/caretaker). So the word Lokpal means 'protector of
people'. The concept of Lokpal has been drawn up to root out corruption
at high places in the prevailing Indian polity. In India, the Jan Lokpal
Bill is a draft anti-corruption law that would create
an ombudsman called the Jan Lokpal; this would be an
independent body similar to the Election Commission with the
power to prosecute politicians and bureaucrats without prior government
permission. Drafted by Shanti Bhushan,
retired Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi,
Justice N. Santosh Hegde, advocate Prashant Bhushan, former
chief election commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh in consultation
with the leaders of the India Against Corruption movement
and civil society, the bill proposes the institution of the
office of Lokpal (Ombudsman) at the center and local Lokayukta at
the state level. The bill is designed to create an effective
anti-corruption and grievance redressal system that effectively deters
corruption while providing effective protection to whistleblowers. For 42 years, the government-drafted bill
has failed to pass through the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of
the Parliament of India. The first Lokpal Bill was passed
in the 4th Lok Sabha in 1969 but stalled in the Rajya
Sabha. Subsequent Lokpal bills were introduced in 1971, 1977, 1985,
1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008 but all failed to
pass. Following the four day Anna Hazarefasting struggle,
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that the Lokpal Bill would be
introduced in the 2011 monsoon session of parliament. The Lokpal will be a three-member body
with a chairperson who is or was a chief justice or Supreme Court
judge, and two members who are or have been high courts judges or chief
justices. Implementation of the Lokpal bill will
hopefully reduce corruption in India. The basic idea of the Lokpal is
borrowed from the office of the ombudsman in other countries. It provides for filing complaints of
corruption against the prime minister , other ministers and members of
parliament with the ombudsman. Anyone, except for a public servant , can file a complaint and the Lokpal has to complete the inquiry within six months. For 42 years, governments have tried to put in place the law. The bill was for the first time presented
during the fourth Lok Sabha in 1968, and was passed there in 1969.
However, the Lok Sabha was dissolved , resulting in the first death of
the bill. It was revived in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2008. In September 2004, prime
minister Manmohan Singh said the Congress-led United
Progressive Alliance government would lose no time in enacting the bill.
But strong lobbies blocked it. The Lokpal Bill, 2010, awaits an okay from a select committee. Former chief justice of
the Delhi high court and rights activist Rajinder Sachar
feels the bill is "shamefully toothless and meant to give a false
reassurance to the people that the government is serious in its fight
against corruption" . |
Salient features of lokpal bill |
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Benefits of lokpal bill |
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Reference |
http://dotgiri.com/2011/04/09/benefits-of-jan-lokpal-bill-india/ |