NEW DELHI - The much-awaited Lokpal Bill on Jan. 1 got the assent from Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, providing for creation of an anti-graft watchdog which will bring under its purview even the Prime Minister with certain safeguards. The Bill was passed by the upper house of the Indian Parliament, Rajya Sabha on Dec. 17 and by the Lok Sabha the next day. The Lok Sabha secretariat had on Dec. 24 sent to the Law Ministry a copy of the Bill which has been signed by Speaker Meira Kumar. The Bill was then forwarded to the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the President’s assent.
The President has signed the Lokpal Bill. The Bill takes the shape of the Act after the signing by the President and following certain procedures. After the assent by the President, Secretary Legislative Department in the Law Ministry will sign it and send it for publication in the official gazettee. The Bill aims to set up institution of Lokpal at the Center and Lokayuktas in states by law enacted by respective legislatures within one year of coming into force of the Act.
The Bill was first passed by the Lok Sabha at the fag end of the winter session of 2011, but not by the Rajya Sabha, where it was debated but the house was adjourned before voting on it. Later, a select committee of the Rajya Sabha had suggested changes in the Bill, most of which which were incorporated and approved by the Union Cabinet. Following the amendments, the Rajya Sabha had passed the bill. The Lokpal had become a bone of contention among ruling Congress, opposition BJP and civil societies with each one of them wanting to make changes in it to make it more effective. (PTI)
The Bill was first passed by the Lok Sabha at the fag end of the winter session of 2011, but not by the Rajya Sabha, where it was debated but the house was adjourned before voting on it. Later, a select committee of the Rajya Sabha had suggested changes in the Bill, most of which which were incorporated and approved by the Union Cabinet. Following the amendments, the Rajya Sabha had passed the bill. The Lokpal had become a bone of contention among ruling Congress, opposition BJP and civil societies with each one of them wanting to make changes in it to make it more effective. (PTI)