Lokpal amendment bill goes to standing committee

NEW DELHI: A bill seeking to amend Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act to include leader of the largest opposition party in LokSabha in the panel to select the chairperson and members of the anti-corruption watchdog was on Monday referred to the Standing Committee of Parliament.
Parliamentary affairs minister M Venkaiah Naidu expressed the government's willingness to send the bill to the Standing Committee after Rabindra Kumar Jena (BJD) said there were several loopholes in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and Other Related Law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 in its present form, including on the issue of selection of CBI director.
The bill was taken up for discussion amid din created by the Opposition on the religious conversion issue.
The bill was brought to address the lacunae in the existing law which provides for inclusion of the Leader of the Opposition in the selection panel. However, since there is no LoP in the current House as no oppositiojn party could bag 10% of the Lok Sabha seats, the amendment was necessitated.
In the present House, the amendment will pave the way for Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge to be a member of the Lokpal search committee which is to be headed by the Prime Minister and consist of the Lok Sabha Speaker, Chief Justice of India or a judge of the apex court nominated by him and an eminent jurist, who could be nominated by the President or any other member.
The bill proposes that "no appointment of a Lokpal Chairperson, member or the eminent jurist will be invalid merely by reason of any vacancy of absence of a member in the selection committee".
The bill provides for qualifications for appointment of director of prosecution in CBI and for its functional independence.
The director of prosecution is appointed under provisions of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, which governs the working of CBI.
There shall be a directorate of prosecution headed by a director who shall be an officer not below the rank of joint secretary, for conducting prosecution of cases, according to DSPE Act.
Responding to members' demand, Naidu said the government supports the demand that the CBI should be an independent body and if the House agrees it can be referred to the Standing Committee. Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, who was on the Chair, then referred the bill to the Standing Committee.