All-party meet agrees on strong Lokpal bill in Monsoon session

NEW DELHI: An all-party meet on Lokpal on Sunday agreed that a "strong and effective" bill should be brought in the monsoon session of Parliament with consensus on maintaining the supremacy of Parliament and established procedures.

However, there were differences on various provisions of the proposed legislation with a number of small parties, except AIADMK, favouring inclusion of Prime Minister but not higher judiciary in the ambit of the anti-corruption ombudsman.

Main opposition BJP, which kept cards close to its chest on the contentious issues, said it has serious differences over the draft prepared by the five ministers of the joint drafting committee with regard to jurisdiction and process of selection and removal of the Lokpal.

"The all-party meeting agreed that government should bring before the next session of Parliament a strong and effective Lokpal Bill following the established procedures," said a resolution passed after the three-hour meeting at the residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

At the meeting, there was consensus that setting up of the institution of Lokpal should not undermine the established Parliamentary processes of enacting a law.

The government's consultations with political parties two months after it engaged with civil society led by Anna Hazare whose draft demands inclusion of Prime Minister, higher judiciary, MPs' conduct inside Parliament in the bill.

Setting the tone for the meeting, Singh said the government was committed to bringing a bill that will provide for "strong and effective way to tackle corruption in high places" but such an institution will have to work within the framework of Constitution.

source: PTI