The government plans to introduce the new Lokpal Bill and the Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on December 22 and to see that they are passed on the same day.
Also, the Union Cabinet on Tuesday night approved a historic Bill for creation a Lokpal with Constitutional status that will have no control over CBI but brings within its purview the Prime Minister with a number of safeguards. Not succumbing to Anna Hazare's demand for inclusion of CBI under Lokpal, the government also decided against hiving off of the prosecution wing of the CBI. After two days of intense drafting by a group of ministers and officials, the new draft of Constitution (Amendment) Bill was cleared at a special Cabinet meeting that lasted 70 minutes.
Moreover, sources said after their passage, the two Bills will be taken to Rajya Sabha the next day December 23 for passage. The sources said the government was being forced to hurry with the issue because of opposition to the plans for extension of the Session beyond Christmas. On Thursday, the existing Lokpal Bill introduced in August will be withdrawn.
In addition to that, the Bill will be introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday and the existing one, introduced in August, would be withdrawn. The Lokpal will be a nine-member body, whose Chairman will be selected by a four-member panel consisting of Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or his nominee from among the Supreme Court judges, sources said. The Bill provides for the Prime Minister to be brought under the purview of the Lokpal with certain safeguards that keep out aspects like international relations, public order, atomic energy, space, internal and external security from inquiry.
Furthermore, probe on any complaint against the Prime Minister will be decided by the full bench, of which at least three-fourth should agree. The probe will in-camera and if a complaint is dismissed, the records on it should not be made public. Though the Lokpal will have no control over CBI, a demand strongly pursued by Hazare, an important provision has been added under which the CBI Director will be selected by a committee of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge, they said.
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source: Indian Express
Posted in: 2012 bills, Constitutional status, India news, Lok Sabha, New Lokpal Bill, PM Lokpal purview
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