<p>Activist Arvind Kejriwal said the team hoped that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had on June 30 promised Team Anna that he will enact a strong Lokayukta law, brings a strong Bill on the lines of the one passed by Uttarakhand assembly.<br /><br />"Bihar government's proposed Lokayukta Bill is a copy of the much-criticised Centre's draft against which Anna sat on a fast," he said.<br /><br />Another Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said the proposed Lokayukta Bill of Bihar was a "replica" of the Centre's Lokpal against which they had all agitated. "Jan Lokpal Bill is an absolute necessity for standardisation," he said.<br /><br />Kejriwal said selection, suspension and removal of Lokayukta will be in government's control and therefore it will not be independent, as per the draft.<br /><br />The draft also says the Lokayukta needs permission from government to investigate and prosecute any government officer and punishment to a complainant if he files a frivolous complaint and punishment for a corrupt officer is the same, six months to five years. <br /><br />As per the draft, corrupt officers will also get free legal assistance provided by government against the complainant, he said.<br /><br />"These are the same provisions that were there in central government's draft Lokpal Bill and Anna sat on a fast against these provisions. We sincerely wish that Nitish Kumar brings a strong Lokayukta Bill on the lines of Uttarakhand," he said.<br /><br />Bihar cabinet had yesterday decided to seek public opinion on the proposal for effective and strong Lokayukta by November 22 and formed a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi to finetune the draft of the Lokayukta Bill which is proposed to be tabled in the winter session of the state assembly in December.</p>
<p>Activist Arvind Kejriwal said the team hoped that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had on June 30 promised Team Anna that he will enact a strong Lokayukta law, brings a strong Bill on the lines of the one passed by Uttarakhand assembly.<br /><br />"Bihar government's proposed Lokayukta Bill is a copy of the much-criticised Centre's draft against which Anna sat on a fast," he said.<br /><br />Another Team Anna member Kiran Bedi said the proposed Lokayukta Bill of Bihar was a "replica" of the Centre's Lokpal against which they had all agitated. "Jan Lokpal Bill is an absolute necessity for standardisation," he said.<br /><br />Kejriwal said selection, suspension and removal of Lokayukta will be in government's control and therefore it will not be independent, as per the draft.<br /><br />The draft also says the Lokayukta needs permission from government to investigate and prosecute any government officer and punishment to a complainant if he files a frivolous complaint and punishment for a corrupt officer is the same, six months to five years. <br /><br />As per the draft, corrupt officers will also get free legal assistance provided by government against the complainant, he said.<br /><br />"These are the same provisions that were there in central government's draft Lokpal Bill and Anna sat on a fast against these provisions. We sincerely wish that Nitish Kumar brings a strong Lokayukta Bill on the lines of Uttarakhand," he said.<br /><br />Bihar cabinet had yesterday decided to seek public opinion on the proposal for effective and strong Lokayukta by November 22 and formed a committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi to finetune the draft of the Lokayukta Bill which is proposed to be tabled in the winter session of the state assembly in December.</p>