The recommendations in the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Lokpal Bill will not create an institution of Lokpal that can effectively deal with corruption, Team Anna member and lawyer Prashant Bhushan has said.
Reacting to the report that was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on Friday, Mr. Bhushan said the Lokpal would not be effective because the appointment and removal of Lokpal were controlled by the government. The investigation machinery, the Central Bureau of Investigation, would be controlled by the government. The Lokpal's jurisdiction was curtailed and there was confusion about who would investigate.
“The jurisdiction of Lokpal will be curtailed by removing the top [Prime Minister, MPs, higher judiciary] and the bottom [Group C and D employees.] There is confusion as to who will investigate the complaints of corruption. The Grievance Redress and higher judiciary will be addressed through separate bills, which are also not effective. This report violates the ‘sense of the house resolution. Several dissenting notes convey that many people, including those of the Congress, have problems with the report.”
Activist Anna Hazare would stage a day-long agitation at Jantar Mantar on Sunday. He had also announced a longer agitation at the Ramlila Maidan after the winter session of Parliament.
At a press conference, when asked if the recommendations would make Mr. Hazare “unhappy,” chairman of the Standing Committee Abhishek Singhvi said: “The panel comprised 14 parties. My job was not to please anyone or everyone. If the committee is set up to rubber-stamp any proposal, then it is no point having any committee.”
