<p> With numbers stacked against government in Rajya Sabha for passage of Lokpal Bill, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi today said the legislation appeared headed for a joint session of Parliament as the Upper House may pass a version different from the one passed in Lok Sabha.</p>.<p>"It looks like we will have two different bills passed in two houses. Is Lokpal Bill heading towards a joint session? Result is still unpredictable," Bedi said.<br /><br />If different versions of the bill are passed and one of the Houses refuses to accept the amendment by the other, the President can summon a joint session of the two houses which is presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker. The bill can be passed by simple majority.<br />Till now, three bills -- Dowry Prohibition Act (1961), Banking Service Commission Repeal Bill (1978) and Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (2002) -- have been passed in joint sessions.<br /><br />The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 was passed by a voice vote late last night after government moved ten official amendments taking into account the demands raised by Opposition parties and allies.<br /><br />In 245-member Rajya Sabha, the government side does not have the requisite number to get the bill passed.<br /><br />Bedi also expressed hope that the BJP will introduce the key amendment of CBI's administrative control out of government.<br /><br />On conferring Constitutional status for Lokpal, which failed to get the requisite two-third majority in Lok Sabha, she said it was a "deliberate diversionary tactic" by Congress.<br />"Congress knew it did not have the numbers," she claimed.</p>
<p> With numbers stacked against government in Rajya Sabha for passage of Lokpal Bill, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi today said the legislation appeared headed for a joint session of Parliament as the Upper House may pass a version different from the one passed in Lok Sabha.</p>.<p>"It looks like we will have two different bills passed in two houses. Is Lokpal Bill heading towards a joint session? Result is still unpredictable," Bedi said.<br /><br />If different versions of the bill are passed and one of the Houses refuses to accept the amendment by the other, the President can summon a joint session of the two houses which is presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker. The bill can be passed by simple majority.<br />Till now, three bills -- Dowry Prohibition Act (1961), Banking Service Commission Repeal Bill (1978) and Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act (2002) -- have been passed in joint sessions.<br /><br />The Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 was passed by a voice vote late last night after government moved ten official amendments taking into account the demands raised by Opposition parties and allies.<br /><br />In 245-member Rajya Sabha, the government side does not have the requisite number to get the bill passed.<br /><br />Bedi also expressed hope that the BJP will introduce the key amendment of CBI's administrative control out of government.<br /><br />On conferring Constitutional status for Lokpal, which failed to get the requisite two-third majority in Lok Sabha, she said it was a "deliberate diversionary tactic" by Congress.<br />"Congress knew it did not have the numbers," she claimed.</p>