Lokpal Bill to be tabled in Parliament on Aug 4

New Delhi: The Government will table the Lokpal Bill in Parliament on Thursday. The proposed anti-corruption legislation was approved by the Cabinet on June 30 keeping out the Prime Minister from its purview. At the June 30 Cabinet meeting both the Government and the Jan Lokpal Bill versions put forward by Anna Hazare's team were discussed.

The exemption of the Prime Minister and the judiciary from Lokpal will be main sticking points.

During the Cabinet meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had offered that he should be under the purview of the Lokpal Bill. But the Cabinet decided to keep the post of the Prime Minister from the purview of the bill. However, after a prime minister demits office, he or she would come under Lokpal's ambit.

While the Chairperson would be a sitting or retired Chief Justice of India, the members would include former or sitting judges of Supreme Court or Chief Justices of the High Court.

Persons with "impeccable integrity", with 25 years of experience in administration who has dealt with corruption and vigilance, would also form part of the Lokpal.

The Government had incorporated some changes in its version by including some suggestions from allies and the opposition. Higher judiciary, too, will not come under the Lokpal's ambit. It will come under the Judicial Standards and Accountability Bill.

According to the bill the Lokpal need not take permission to investigate any Union Minister, MPs, Group 'A' officers and others equivalent to this grade in any body, Board, authority, corporation, trust, society or autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament.

The Lokpal will have separate wings on inquiry and investigation but will have no power to prosecute. The prosecution will be done by the judiciary.

The Lokpal would not require sanction or approval under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 or Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in cases where prosecution is proposed.

The Lokpal will also have powers to attach the property of corrupt public servants acquired through corrupt means.

Disagreeing with team Anna that all bureaucrats should come under its purview, the bill says only those in rank of deputy and joint secretary should be included. The investigation will be independent and time bound.