Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 3
The Delhi Government passed the Jan Lokpal Bill during the Cabinet meeting today.
The Bill, which recommends punishment ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for officers and ministers accused of corruption, was passed without seeking approval of the Delhi Lieutenant Governor and the Union Home Ministry. “The Bill will neither be sent to the LG nor the Central government for approval. It will be tabled directly in the Assembly,” said top Delhi Government official, adding that it was nowhere written in the Constitution.
Education Minister Manish Sisodia told mediapersons that the Bill provided no special provisions to even the Chief Minister. “It is a historic day for the people of the city as the Delhi Jan Lokpal has been approved by the Cabinet. Every person working in the Delhi Government, right from the Chief Minister to a peon, is covered under the Bill,” Sisodia said.
The Bill will be presented in a special Assembly session at Indira Gandhi Stadium on February 16 where common people will also be invited.
With provisions for whistle-blowers as well, the Bill ensures strict punishment to officers, bureaucrats and ministers. The only law that is close to this Bill is the one passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly in 2011, but it, too, had a few limitations in filing complaints against ministers. The Aam Aadmi Party had promised an effective Jan Lokpal Bill while campaigning for the Delhi elections and promised to pass it within 15 days after coming to power.
What this Bill means
The Lokpal institution will comprise a chairperson and 10 members. At least one-third of the members should have extensive outstanding knowledge of law.
The Lokpal chairperson and members will be selected by a panel comprising the chief minister, leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, two High Court judges selected in a full court meeting, one previous Lokayukta and two eminent citizens to be selected by other members of the selection committee.
The tenure of the Lokpal chairperson and members will be seven years.
It will cover all public servants. The Bill provides a legal right of protection to whistle-blowers and witnesses, including officials and individuals coming forward to provide information in cases of corruption. It provides for time-bound investigation and trial of corruption cases. The Lokpal will have the power to initiate a probe on on its own (suo motu) or on a complaint from an individual.
If the beneficiary of an offence is a business entity, in addition to the punishment provided under this law, the guilty will have to pay a fine up to five times the loss caused to public exchequer.
The Bill in a nutshell
- The Bill recommends punishment ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment for officers and ministers accused of corruption
- Every person working in the Delhi Government, right from the Chief Minister to a peon, is included under the purview of the Bill
- It will be presented in a special Assembly session at Indira Gandhi Stadium on February 16 where common people will also be invited
Source Link: http://www.tribuneindia.com
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