Notice had been given for as many as 187 amendments to the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 including from the Trinamool Congress for deletion of the entire Part III of the Bill regarding establishment of the Lokayuktas. The Biju Janata Dal and the Shiromani Akali Dal too had given similar notices.
By afternoon, the Rajya Sabha had received 173 amendment notices. The number swelled to 187 by evening as announced by the Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy.
Normally notices are taken 24 hours in advance but on Thursday, notices were accepted till late evening, while the government took the stand in the House that there were too many amendments which “needed consideration.”
Among major amendments were the ones given by the Bharatiya Janata Party for deletion of words “not less than” 50 per cent of members of Lokpal belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled tribes, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women in Clause 3.
They also asked for deletion of the word ‘Minorities' in Clause 3 and inclusion of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha on Selection Committee in Clause 4. They also wanted Lokpal to appoint his secretary and not select from a panel given by the government
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) gave amendment for replacement of eminent jurist on the Selection Committee with “an eminent person to be nominated by the Chief Election Commissioner, Comptroller and Auditor General and Union Public Service Commission. They also wanted the Inquiry Wing under the Lokpal to be replaced by “Investigation Wing” with the Central government providing officers and staff under exclusive jurisdiction of the Lokpal as decided in consultation with the Lokpal.
The Party gave another amendment for inclusion under the Lokpal of “any corporate body, its promoters, its officers including Director against whom there is a complaint of corruption in relation to grant of government licence, lease, contract, agreement or any other action to influence government policy through corrupt means.”
They wanted Lokpal to take suo motu action in a compliant of corruption.
The Communist Party of India gave amendments against for deletion of immunity to Prime Minister in cases of corruption in relation to “public order.” Under the Chapter ‘Jurisdiction for Inquiry,' they gave amendment for inclusion of Director, Manager, secretary or other officer of “Non-Government Organisation” receiving government funds or foreign funds in excess of Rs 10 lakh.
The party also sought inclusion of Chairman, MD or member of Board of Directors of “any private company or business house” which deals with Centre of State and against whom compliant regarding a government tender or contract.
SP amendment
The Samajwadi Party gave amendment for inclusion of Leader of Opposition in the Selection Committee, inclusion of NGOs and media in the jurisdiction of Lokpal, submission of investigation report to “appropriate court,” not Lokpal, and appointment of chairperson and members of Lokayukta should include an eminent jurist not nominated by Governor but by the “collegium of three senior-most judges of the High Court.”
