The much talked-about Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2013, got President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent on Wednesday.
The Bill, which was passed by Parliament in the just-concluded winter session, provides for creation of anti-graft ombudsman to investigate corruption charges against public functionaries including Prime Minister, Ministers and Members of Parliament.
Among other provisions, the Bill makes it incumbent upon States to make within a year their own law for setting up Lokayuktas on the lines of the Lokpal Bill.
The Bill was sent to the President on Tuesday. It will now be notified in the official gazette for it to become an Act. The Act shall be notified by the Law Ministry.
The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in 2011 and was taken up in the Rajya Sabha but could not be voted upon. It was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Later the Bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha and referred to the select committee. The amended Bill was again tabled in the Rajya Sabha on December 16 and passed by voice vote. The following day, it was passed by the Lok Sabha without debate.
