New Delhi: The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill 2011 provides a uniform vigilance and anti-corruption road map for the country, both at the Centre and the states.
The bill provides for establishing a new institution in the Constitution, which will be called Lokpal for the Centre and Lokayukta for the states.
How the Lokpal will be set-up:
Lokpal chairperson and eight members will be appointed by a selection panel - comprising the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India (CJI) or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by the CJI and an eminent jurist to be nominated by the President of India.
A search committee is to assist the selection panel.
Fifty percent of members of the search committee and Lokpal shall be from amongst SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities and women.
How the Lokpal will function:
After receiving a complaint against a public servant, the Lokpal will decide whether it merits a preliminary inquiry.
Lokpal`s inquiry wing will submit a report within 60 days (extendable by 60 days).
A three-member Lokpal bench will consider the report received from the inquiry wing and decide whether a prima facie case exits.
Investigation to be done by CBI or any other agency and the probe to be completed in six months (extendable by six months).
A Lokpal bench will then consider the probe report and ask the prosecution wing to file a chargesheet or a closure report in a special court.
Lokpal will not require any prior sanction for launching prosecution in cases inquired by it or initiated on its direction.
Trial to be completed in a year (extendable by a year).
Expenses of the Lokpal:
All salaries, allowances and pensions payable to all its staff shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund of India.
IANS
