Govt's priority is to make Lokpal functional: Narayanasamy

The Government today said its priority was to make Lokpal functional and to pass four pending anti-corruption bills in the upcoming session of Parliament.
"We have notified the Lokpal rules. The process for selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal has begun. Our priority is to pass pending anti-graft bills in Parliament in the coming session," Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy told PTI here.
Four bills -- Whistleblowers' Protection Bill, Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, Citizens Charter Bill and The Prevention of Bribery of Foreign Public Officials -- related to Ministry of Personnel are pending in Parliament.

"As Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi have already said, the government will pass these bills on priority basis," he said.
Parliament will meet for the last time between February 5 and 21 as Lok Sabha polls are expected to be held in April-May this year.
Narayanasamy said the selection process for Lokpal will be completed soon.

"The process has started. After receiving the applications for chairperson and members, the government will complete the selection process soon," the Minister said.
The Ministry of Personnel has published advertisements in prominent Hindi and English dailies seeking applications for chairperson and eight members of the anti-graft watchdog, Lokpal.

Out of the advertised posts for members in the Lokpal, four posts are for judicial members and remaining for non-judicial.
The Government has also circulated these vacancies to the Registrar of the Supreme Court, the Registrars of High Courts, Chief Secretaries of state governments and secretaries in the central government departments and ministries, calling for nomination of eligible candidates.
The applications, which are to be addressed to the Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), should reach by February 7, the advert said.
President Pranab Mukherjee had given his assent to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill on January 1 this year.

The Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on December 17, 2013, and by Lok Sabha the next day.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, provides for the establishment of a Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries.
It has under its purview even the prime minister, albeit with certain safeguards.