New Delhi: The cabinet will meet to discuss the amended Lokpal bill today, which was cleared by the head of Group of Ministers on corruption Pranab Mukherjee two days ago.
Once the cabinet clears the amended version of the bill, it will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
According to sources, the first amendment now allows only Members of Parliament (MPs) to move for removal of a member or the head of the Lokpal panel. Sources add that the two clauses, which allowed the President or any citizen to move for their removal, have now been removed. According to the amendment, the move for removal can be made now only through a petition signed by not less than 100 MPs.
Sources say the other amendment is that the Lokpal Bill will be applicable to a state only upon passing a resolution by the state legislature. The Lokpal refers to a national ombudsman agency which will investigate complaints of graft against government servants. The bill in its earlier form made it necessary for states to create a Lokyukta, or local agency, that replicates the national model.
In December, the Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal Bill. It was then discussed heatedly in the Rajya Sabha but after a lengthy debate, the session was adjourned without a vote. The Opposition accused the government of conniving to avoid a vote because it knew it would lose. An amended Bill will now be brought to the Rajya Sabha, and after it is cleared there, it will be sent to the Lok Sabha for discussion and a vote.
Once the cabinet clears the amended version of the bill, it will be introduced in the Rajya Sabha.
According to sources, the first amendment now allows only Members of Parliament (MPs) to move for removal of a member or the head of the Lokpal panel. Sources add that the two clauses, which allowed the President or any citizen to move for their removal, have now been removed. According to the amendment, the move for removal can be made now only through a petition signed by not less than 100 MPs.
In December, the Lok Sabha passed the Lokpal Bill. It was then discussed heatedly in the Rajya Sabha but after a lengthy debate, the session was adjourned without a vote. The Opposition accused the government of conniving to avoid a vote because it knew it would lose. An amended Bill will now be brought to the Rajya Sabha, and after it is cleared there, it will be sent to the Lok Sabha for discussion and a vote.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
PM Modi's Regard For Pranab Mukherjee Remains Undiminished, Says Daughter What Pranab Mukherjee Told Daughter As They "Fought" About RSS Invite Pranab Mukherjee's Daughter On Rajiv Gandhi Dropping Her Father From Cabinet Windows Computers Lead To 'Blue Screen Of Death' Due To CrowdStrike Error Massive Worldwide Microsoft Outage: Flights, Markets, Stock Exchange Down Microsoft 'Blue Screen Of Death' Outage: Full List Of Services Hit In India PM Modi Hails Lockheed Martin's Make In India, Make For World Drive Study Abroad: Top 10 Management Universities In United Kingdom "Reason Identified, Updates Released": India On Massive Microsoft Outage Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.