Government to finalise Lok Pal Bill today

The government is ready to extend the current session of Parliament (due to end the coming Friday) if that is necessary to enact the Lok Pal legislation, but is not ready to submit to the threats on details by the Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption.

The Bill is to be brought for an eight-hour discussion in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday and in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. The government has not ruled out the possibility of extending the session to the following week, in the wake of threats by the IAC for ‘jail bharo’ and the like agitations to get the ombudsman law enacted.

IAC wanted the Prime Minister to be entirely under the Lok Pal’s scrutiny. The standing committee of Parliament which had examined the issue had recommended leaving it to the wisdom of the general House. The government Bill is finally likely to specify that any investigation can only be initiated if three-fourths of the Lok Pal panel members give their consent and not on matters related to foreign affairs, national security, international treaties, atomic energy and some of other areas deemed of crucial national importance. The government is expected to hold a cabinet meeting tomorrow to clear the Bill.

Ministers in the government have said there would be an ‘organic link’ between the proposed Lok Pal and the sister Bill to ensure implementation of a citizens’ charter and speedy redressal of grievances.

This ‘link’ is likely to be the office of the Central Vigilance Commissioner, already mandated with probing corruption in the bureaucracy. It will extend its reach to the lower bureaucracy. The parliamentary committee had suggested excluding the citizens’ charter from the Lok Pal, as the government was already working on a separate Bill for the former. However, Hazare and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are demanding this come under the Lok Pal.

On the crucial issue of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the government has decided that if the Lok Pal recommends a case for probing by the agency, the CBI would do so and give its report to the Lok Pal. “Some parts of the CBI will be included (under the Lok Pal). If the Lok Pal forwards a complaint to CBI, the agency will investigate and give its report to the Lok Pal. Later, depending on the volume of work the Lok Pal is confronted with, the government may consider setting up a separate Lok Pal Investigation Bureau,” said a senior minister.

In the course of brainstorming sessions by cabinet ministers, the government has decided that the procedure for removal of the Lok Pal members would be akin to that prescribed for the chief executive of Prasar Bharati, the state broadcasting network. At least 100 Mps would have to complain to the President, who would then ask the Supreme Court to conduct an inquiry and give the report to the President.

Facing criticism for not giving reservations to women, minority groups, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward castes, there would be at best 33 per cent reservation for such groups in the Lok Pal, as a 50 per cent quota could be struck down by the Supreme Court.

While the government is busy giving final shape to the Bill, there is no ‘Plan B’ to stall a BJP agitation on points of difference.

Senior ministers are hoping they’d be able to isolate BJP members in Parliament.

“No one will be agreeable to all aspects of the Lok Pal Bill. We cannot satisfy everyone but will try to satisfy most people,” said a top government manager.