Delhi Assembly Passes Jan Lokpal Bill

In the assembly, Delhi Chief Minster Arvind Kejriwal said that his government has brought a strong bill in Delhi and will next urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass Jan Lokpal. Mr Kejriwal also defended the provision which brings even Union government ministers and officials under the ambit of the bill.

The Delhi Assembly on Friday passed the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, 2015, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government strongest poll plank that stormed the party to power in Delhi this year.

It was reported that Hazare supports Kejriwal’s legislation, which has been tabled by the Delhi government in the Assembly, albeit with riders.

It means besides chief minister and Delhi government officials, the central government officials and others working in agencies like Delhi Police that report to the central government will come under its purview.

The bill proposes handing of a maximum penalty of life imprisonment to a person involved in corruption.

Bhushan, along with former AAP member Yogendra Yadav, has been opposing the current draft, claiming that it is a much diluted version of the 2014 bill to which he had also contributed.

The passing of the Bill, which included suggestions of veteran activist Anna Hazare, was termed as a historic movement by the Delhi Chief Minister.

The 2011 bill said a Lokpal could be removed only after being found guilty of wrongdoing by courts and after presidential sanction.

However, the government dismissed the criticism saying that the Supreme Court had argued against inclusion of eminent persons in such positions during deliberations over NJAC and had argued that impeachment was the best possible removal clause. In the new version, a two-third majority in the assembly is enough to remove the Lokpal.

One amendment proposes a seven-member panel to select two members and chairperson in the institution of Jan Lokpal. However, BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who is also the opposition leader, called the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, 2015, a political document that violates constitutional norms. The impeachment process for removal will begin only after a higher court-monitored probe of any allegation against the Lokpal, government sources said.

But, the fate of the Bill remains unclear as it was tabled without prior approval from the Centre.

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