Government-drafted Lokpal Bill has no power - Justice Hegde

Government-drafted Lokpal Bill has no power - Justice Hegde

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 11: Lokayukta Santhosh Hegde said on Sunday that there is a huge difference between the Lokpal Bill proposed  by the leaders of the anti-corruption movement and that drafted by the government.

One of the members of the committee of 10 appointed to review and finalize the Lokpal Bill, Hegde said that radical changes must be included in the government’s draft to reduce the conflict between the clauses and provisions in it and the demands of the people leading the anti-corruption movement. The Lokpal Bill, in its current form, is hardly powerful enough to eliminate corruption, he added.

Further speaking about the current form of the Bill, he said that it fails to generate feelings of fear among public servants, which is essential to prevent them from taking bribes. Clarifying his role in the committee, he said that he is aiming to mediate between the anti-corruption movement and the government and balance things in such a way that a strong Bill is created for general social welfare.

Justice Hegde said that he will be travelling to Delhi often to attend a number of meetings to discuss, review, and finalize the Lokpal Bill. He said that a meeting has been convened for April 16 and that he intends to get clarification regarding logistics during that meeting.

However, the Union Law Ministry has not yet sent the Lokayukta a formal communication requesting him to accept the nomination to the committee although the top brass from the ministry had contacted him about it. The Lokayukta said that he had received a phone call when he was visiting Mangalore on Saturday.