Letters: Exclusionary Lok Pal

This refers to the report, “Cabinet clears Lok Pal Bill” (July 29). Ideally, all important state functionaries should come within the purview of the Lok Pal Bill since those who manage the state’s affairs should be held accountable for their actions. Greater accountability on their part would lead to greater probity in public life. But the draft Bill cleared by the Cabinet will go to Parliament without “a serving prime minister”, higher judiciary and the conduct of “MPs inside the House” within its purview.

The exclusion either presupposes their infallibility or puts their fallibility above question. Laws that involve criminal liability should apply universally without providing immunity to select individuals and institutions from investigation and prosecution. The argument that the exemption is warranted to rule out the possibility of frivolous charges being levelled against them is specious. The assumption that corruption stabilises and probity destabilises is fallacious. Merely excoriating the government for emasculating the Bill is not enough. The campaign for a stronger Lok Pal Bill should gain ground and surmount pressure on Parliament to pass an effective Bill on the lines suggested by civil rights activists. After all, in a democracy, Parliament cannot disregard the voice of the people.

G David Milton, Marthandam, Tamil Nadu

Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard, Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201; letters@bsmail.in