Judicial Accountability Bill needs public debate, says DVS

Union Law and Justice Minister Sadananda Gowda has said Judicial Accountability Bill needs a public debate while the installation of Lokpal requires amendment to the Lokpal Act owing to the absence of an opposition leader.

Briefing reporters, he said the Centre intends to minimise the existing laws by doing away with obsolete ones. “Presently there are 1,500 amendment and reform bills pending before the Centre. We want to minimise them.” The government wants to minimise the number of litigations including those filed by the Centre.

On Lokpal, ombudsman for central government, he said the major hindrance was the absence of opposition leader since none of the political parties in the Lok Sabha had adequate members to get the status of opposition.

“The Lokpal can be appointed only in consultation with the opposition leader. Since we do not have an opposition leader, we need to bring an amendment to the existing laws to have an opposition leader,” Gowda said.

He condemned the withdrawal of Ban on Cow Slaughter Bill saying the State government had gone against the wishes of majority of people.