History of Lokpal Bill
The Lokpal Bill has been
pending for the last 42 years. Though it was passed in the Lok Sabha in 1969,
the Rajya Sabha rejected it. The Bill was re-introduced in the Rajya Sabha as
many as nine times and yet it could not get the nod of the upper house of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha saw the Bill in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005
and 2008. The Bill is still pending adoption into law.
The Lokpal Bill is important in the sense that even people occupying high public offices including the Prime Minister, ministers and MPs can be probed for corruption charges. The Bill seeks to create the institution of Lokpal or ombudsman of India, who will receive complaints even against the Prime Minister. The institution of Lokpal was first contemplated way back in early 1960s with an aim to rooting out corruption in public offices. The Lokpal Bill was based on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee for Prevention of Corruption in 1966. The Lokpal Bill (as introduced in 1998) seeks the establishment of the institution of Lokpal to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries. The Lokpal Act of 1998 seeks to provide for setting up office of Lok Pal with a chairperson and two members for fixed terms of three years or until attainment of age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. The Lokpal will inquire into complaints filed by any person other than public servant, alleging that public functionaries have committed an offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Lokpal will have the powers of a civil court to summon and enforce attendance, receiving evidence and issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
Those exempted from the purview of Lokpal are the President, the vice-president, the Speaker, the chief justice of India and other judges of Supreme Court, CAG, CEC and other members of Election Commission, and chairman and members of UPSC. The Lokpal has the powers to conduct an inquiry into the allegations in an open court. Is there any time limit for the inquiry?
The time frame for disposal of complaints filed before the Lokpal is six months
The Lokpal Bill is important in the sense that even people occupying high public offices including the Prime Minister, ministers and MPs can be probed for corruption charges. The Bill seeks to create the institution of Lokpal or ombudsman of India, who will receive complaints even against the Prime Minister. The institution of Lokpal was first contemplated way back in early 1960s with an aim to rooting out corruption in public offices. The Lokpal Bill was based on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee for Prevention of Corruption in 1966. The Lokpal Bill (as introduced in 1998) seeks the establishment of the institution of Lokpal to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries. The Lokpal Act of 1998 seeks to provide for setting up office of Lok Pal with a chairperson and two members for fixed terms of three years or until attainment of age of 70 years, whichever is earlier. The Lokpal will inquire into complaints filed by any person other than public servant, alleging that public functionaries have committed an offence punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The Lokpal will have the powers of a civil court to summon and enforce attendance, receiving evidence and issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents.
Those exempted from the purview of Lokpal are the President, the vice-president, the Speaker, the chief justice of India and other judges of Supreme Court, CAG, CEC and other members of Election Commission, and chairman and members of UPSC. The Lokpal has the powers to conduct an inquiry into the allegations in an open court. Is there any time limit for the inquiry?
The time frame for disposal of complaints filed before the Lokpal is six months
