CBI, CVC give view on Lokpal amendments to Parliamentary panel

CBI and CVC have given their views on the provisions of the Lokpal amendment bill to a parliamentary panel examining it.

"We have got the views from Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). These are under consideration of the committee," E M Sudarsana Natchiappan, who is heading a parliamentary committee examining the Lokpal Bill, said.

He said the committee had earlier invited memoranda containing views or suggestions from the individuals and organisations through public advertisement on the proposed changes in the anti-corruption legislation and they are being looked into.

"We are taking up the matter of the bill one by one. We cannot given any timeframe (as to when the panel will be giving its report). But it is a priority for us," Natchiappan told PTI.

A 31-member Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, headed by Natchiappan, is examining the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The Bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 8 last year.

The committee has been mandated to examine the bill and submit its report by March 25.
He said the Department of Personnel and Training, nodal authority of the central government for anti-corruption matters, is also providing its input on the proposed changes in the Lokpal Act.

The amendments seeks to provide for the alternative of leader of single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha in the event there is no Leader of Opposition in the House, for being represented on the selection panel for appointments of chairperson and members of Lokpal.

It aims to provide for qualifications for appointment of Director of Prosecution in the CBI for the sake of its functional independence.

The bill also seeks to lay down the tenure of the eminent jurist nominated as member of the Lokpal and to provide for a scheme wherein the filing of information by the public servants is brought in harmony with the provisions of the respective acts, rules or regulations as applicable to different categories of public servants.

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act provides for establishment of a Lokpal for the Union and Lokayuktas for the states to inquire into corruption charges against public functionaries.

The Lokpal selection committee, led by the Prime Minister, has as its members the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House, the Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him, and an eminent jurist who could be nominated by the President or any other member.

Ahead of the announcement of the general election last year, the UPA government had appointed an eight-member search committee in February in a hurry with Justice (retd) K T Thomas as its chairperson.

The other members were Kaki Madhava Rao (former IAS officer), F S Nariman (legal luminary), Prof Meenakshi Gopinath (educationist), M L Kumawat (former BSF chief), H K Dua and Prof Mrinal Miri (Rajya Sabha MPs) and S Y Quraishi (former Chief Election Commissioner).
But later both Thomas and Nariman had refused to be part of the search panel.