Govt nod to autonomous Lok Pal

In a major victory for those demanding an effective Lok Pal Bill to fight corruption, the government today agreed to having a totally autonomous Lok Pal at the third meeting of the joint committee constituted to draft the Bill. The government agreed to the principle proposed by the civil society that the Lok Pal would be an autonomous entity who will not need permission from anyone to investigate and prosecute anyone in government charged with corruption.

Civil society members of the Joint Committee said the government position today was a positive departure from the earlier draft Lok Pal Bill.

The present system requires anti-corruption agencies like CBI and CVC to take permission from the various ministries concerned before investigating corruption charges. The draft Lok Pal Bill prepared earlier by the government required the Lok Pal to seek the permission of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha before undertaking investigation of corruption charges, members of the India Against Corruption movement spearheading the campaign for Lok Pal Bill said.

Speaking on behalf of the civil society members of the Joint Committee, a spokesperson said the government was responding to the principles that the civil society had proposed for inclusion in the last meeting.