The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has decided that the Delhi government’s Jan Lokpal Bill “cannot be passed in its present form,” a top government official told The Hindu . The MHA will shortly convey its objections to the Arvind Kejriwal government through the office of Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung.
The Bill, which envisages making the capital a ‘corruption-free zone’, was passed by the Assembly in November last. Proposing overarching powers of investigation against Central government employees, it was first sent to the Lieutenant-Governor, who as per norms forwarded it to the MHA for its opinion. Mr. Kejriwal has accused the Centre on several occasions of stalling the legislation.
The Centre had amended Article 239 AA of the Constitution in 2014, which curtailed the powers of the Delhi government’s Anti- Corruption Branch to probe cases against Central staff.
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“We had sent the Bill to the stakeholders for their opinion. After examining the replies, we have come to the conclusion the Bill cannot be cleared in its present form,” the official said.
Confirming that there had been “no movement” in the file pertaining to the proposed legislation since it was forwarded late last year, a source in the Delhi government said they were waiting for the same to be returned to the government through the office of the Lieutenant-Governor.
The much-awaited Bill, opposition to the tabling of which had led Mr. Kejriwal to tender his resignation on February 14, 2014, had been tabled by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on November 30 last year.
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The Bill has provisions to ensure time-bound probe and prosecution within six months or 12 months in the rarest cases, to confiscate and attach assets of government and private officials involved in corrupt acts.
The Bill also seeks to protect whistleblowers.