The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expressed doubts over the Centre's approach in seeking to give constitutional status to the Lokpal and the Lokayukta, stating it does not go with the Constitution.
While the party does not have any objection to the grant of such a status, a serious problem will arise for, Article 252 says the establishment of a Lokayukta is a State subject, CPI(M) leader in the Rajya Sabha Sitaram Yechury pointed out on Thursday.
“All that the Centre can do is to have an enabling resolution. We do not know if the Government has done this exercise. Two State Assemblies have to adopt a resolution before the Centre can enact an enabling resolution, which has to be sent to other States to follow it up with resolution passed by the Assembly and the Council, where such a House exists…we do not know if the Government has done the homework.”
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Addressing a press conference here along with the party's Lok Sabha leader Basudeb Acharia, Mr. Yechury said that even the sequence in Parliament should be first moving the Constitutional Amendment Bill, granting constitutional status to the Lokpal, and then creating the institution of Lokpal.
Assuring the government of the party's cooperation in the passage of the Bill, Mr. Yechury said that at the same time the legislation should not be rushed through.