New Delhi: The central cabinet today approved the Lokpal Bill draft rejected by Anna Hazare-led civil society. Notably, the prime minister and the judiciary have been kept out of the ambit of the bill in this draft. Anti-corruption activists had pitched for a strong version of the law to set up a lokpal, saying the government draft to be discussed was “ineffective.”
The government had constituted a drafting committee having ministers and members of NGO India Against Corruption to finalise the Lokpal Bill, but they failed to reach a consensus.
After that, the ministers finalised a draft of the bill for the Cabinet’s consideration.
However, as the government gets ready to table the bill in Parliament during the monsoon session, those who forced the government to quicken their pace remain dissatisfied.
In a statement Anna Hazare expressed his displeasure. “In its present form, the government’s version of the lokpal bill is too weak and ineffective,” social activist Anna Hazare, who was also member of the drafting committee, said today.
“It has a very narrow jurisdiction,” he said.
Team Anna had demanded inclusion of the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and civil servants in ambit of the proposed lokpal, which the ministers did not agree.
