PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
should also be kept out of the purview of the State Lokayukta. Dr K. P. Ramalingam (DMK) while expressing his party’s wholehearted support for the Bill had doubts about the efficiency of the CBI. While bringing the Chief Minister of a State under the purview of Lokayukta, care had to be taken against any misuse of the law. He also supported the view that religious institutions and charitable institutions should not be exempt from the purview of the Bill. Shri Baishnab Parida (BJD)
said it was the duty of all the political parties, the government, members of Parliament and the people of the country to see to it that this Bill was implemented in letter and spirit. For Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Independent) the Bill was probably the single most important legislation that would be passed in the post- Independence India on the issue of governance. The future and current generations would thank the MPs for their near unanimous support for the Bill and their efforts at cleaning up governance. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) thanked the social activist Shri Hazare for inspiring Parliamentarians through his
INDIA
cause of corruption in India. He argued that leaving the corporate houses and the private sector out of the purview of the Lokpal was however its main drawback. Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar (INC) while supporting the Bill said bringing the incumbent Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal would lead to an erosion of moral authority of the Prime Minister. He believed the source of corruption in the country was basically the absence of the rule of law. Shri Birendra Prasad Baishya (AGP) said strong Lokayuktas should be established in all the States simultaneously to curb corruption. Shri Naresh Gujral (SAD) opined that if guilty officers or public functionaries were not given exemplary punishment, the institution of Lokpal would be totally ineffective. Replying to the debate,
Shri Sibal hoped that all State governments would take note of the strong Lokpal Bill passed by Parliament as a model Bill. The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill which was already in place dealt with the supply side corruption. As far as the issue of Prime Minister was concerned, it was the consensus of the House that the Prime Minister should be included, added the Minister. The Bill, as amended, was passed. On 18 December 2013,
Shri Thol Thirumaavalavan
movement and for early passage of the Lokpal Bill. Shri M.P. Achuthan (CPI)
stated that the unholy nexus between the government, political leadership, corporate houses and the bureaucracy was the root
the Lok Sabha took up the motion for consideration of the amendments made by the Rajya Sabha in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011. Smt. Kumar, in view of the expectations of the people regarding the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, directed that the House might take up consideration of amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 before the notices of Motion of No-Confidence given by some members were brought before the House. Moving the motion for
62 | The Parliamentarian | 2014: Issue One
consideration of the amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Bill, Shri Sibal said the discussion on this Bill had been going on for the last two and a half years, and the Lok Sabha had already discussed the Bill before passing it on 27 December 2011. Since comprehensive discussions had already been taken place, he requested the members to pass it without further discussion.
As the Lokpal Bill alone was not adequate to fight corruption there was need for a comprehensive anti-corruption code in the country. He said all pending anti-corruption Bills should be passed before the expiry of the term of the Fifteenth Lok Sabha. Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) said the Lokpal Bill was fraught with such dangers that officers would avoid responsibility. He requested the president of the INC party to withdraw the Bill. Shri Dara Singh Chauhan (BSP) stressed on enforcing the legislation with utmost honesty. Shri R. Dhruvanarayana (INC) hoped that the Bill would help the government clean up the Executive system and bring more transparency. Many Members including
Smt. Sushma Swaraj, MP Smt. Swaraj pointed out that
on 27 December 2013 when the Bill was brought before the Lok Sabha, she argued that the Bill would not create a strong and effective Lokpal given its many flaws.
She said she had suggested
referring the Bill to the Standing Committee once again which was not accepted and the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha. She was happy that Rajya Sabha took cognizance of the weakness in the Bill and sent it to a Select Committee. She complimented the members and Chairman of the Select Committee for bringing an extremely good Bill by incorporating 15 recommendations. She was happy that the government even though it had reservations on certain recommendations, accepted all recommendations. Shri Rahul Gandhi (INC) said
the establishment of the Lokpal was necessary to strengthen the fight against corruption and ensure accountability of public officials to the people.
Shri Kalyan Banerjee (AITC), Shri Sudip Bandyopadhyay (AITC) and Dr Mirza Mehboob Beg (J&KNC) wholeheartedly supported the Bill. Shri Thirumaavalavan insisted on including the chairpersons of National Commission of SCs and STs, Women and Minorities in the selection committee of the Lokpal. He requested the government include the corporate
Shri Rahul Gandhi
sector under the purview of Lokpal. At the end of the debate, the
motion was adopted and the amendments made by the Rajya Sabha were agreed to. The Bill received Presidential assent on 1 January 2014.
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