New Delhi: Government has said that
people who are not satisfied with the Lokpal Bill approved by
Cabinet can approach the Standing Committee of Parliament and
persuade it to make changes.
HRD Minister Kapil Sibal, who was part of the joint
committee to draft the Bill, said the government has already
reconciled taking into account a number of provisions
suggested by the civil society.
"People who want amendments to the Bill are free to go
to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee will ask
for public comments. They can come and try and persuade the
Standing Committee.
"The Standing Committee represents Parliament in
every measure. We will then take into account whatever the
suggestions are and give a recommendation to the government
which in turn will in turn either accept or not accept or
partly accept or partly reject or accept wholly and introduce
it back for passing in Parliament," he said to a news agency.
The Union Cabinet yesterday cleared the Lokpal Bill
keeping the office of the Prime Minister outside its purview
notwithstanding incumbent Manmohan Singh`s insistence on
subjecting himself to its scrutiny.
The Bill, to be introduced in Parliament on August
three, also keeps out the judiciary and the conduct of MPs in
Parliament from its purview.
To a question on reconciling the demands of the civil
society, Sibal said, "we have already reconciled. It is our
Bill. After reconciling, we have reached this position. We
have taken into account and this is the position we feel is
right."
He said the government has taken a lot from the civil
society draft like separate prosecution wing, separate
investigating agency and no sanction required to prosecute
minister.
All officers from Group A and above will come under
its ambit, he said adding the budget will be funded like the
budget of Supreme Court.
"No sanction required for prosecution of minister or
government official unlike now," he said.
He said the discussions with the civil society are
over and "we will not inform civil society. It will come up in
Parliament. We will hopefully intrioduce it as soon as
possible and get it passed in Winter session hopefully."
He said the matters relating to disciplinary
proceedings of government servants has been kept out. "Lokpal
can recommend but LP not take disciplinary action," he said.
PTI
