The much talked about Lokpal Bill will be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said on Tuesday.
He said Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy has already given a notice to Speaker Meira Kumar to waive the two-day period so that the bill could be introduced on August 4.
Bansal said since all parties favour introduction of the bill at the earliest, Narayanasamy wrote to the Speaker. The Speaker can waive the two-day period required to distribute copies of any new bill to political parties so that they can come prepared during the introduction.
The Lokpal Bill seeks to keep the office of the Prime Minister outside the purview of the ombudsman during his term in office and also exclude higher judiciary and conduct of members of Parliament inside Parliament.
The Lokpal, consisting of Chairperson and eight members, half of them judicial, will have its own prosecution and investigation wing with officers and staff necessary to carry out its functions.
Persons with impeccable integrity, with 25 years of experience in administration who have dealt with corruption and vigilance, would also form part of the Lokpal. The institution would inquire into allegations of corruption in respect of the Prime Minister only after he demits office.
Besides, it would take up corruption matters allegedly involving ministers, MPs, Group 'A' officers and others equivalent to this grade in any body, board, authority, corporation, trust, society or autonomous body set up by an Act of Parliament.
The Lokpal would not require sanction or approval under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, or Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, in cases where prosecution is proposed.
The Lokpal will also have powers to attach the property of corrupt public servants acquired through illegal means. Government hopes that if the Standing Committee comes out with its recommendations on the bill by August-end, then it could go ahead with its passage.
