After eight failed attempts to pass a Lokpal bill in the past, Parliament finally gave its seal of approval to a powerful ombudsman in December 2013. The bill has been drafted and redrafted by two parliamentary committees and now enjoys strong bi-partisan support. The Lokpal will be empowered to probe complaints against the highest political authorities including the PM Main provisions of the Lokpal Bill are as under –· Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of 8 members, 50% of who would have judicial background, 50% on the whole would be from SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women.· Selection of Lokpal members will be by a committee comprising the PM, speaker, leader of Opposition in LS, CJI and an eminent jurist.· It will have jurisdiction over all levels of public servants, including PM. But Lokpal can’t initiate any probe against PM without consent of two-thirds of its members. There can be no probe against PM on complaints relating to international relations, security, public order, atomic energy & space.· No prior sanction required for launching prosecution in cases probed by Lokpal or investigated at its instance. Lokpal will be empowered to attach provisionally any ill-gotten wealth even by court.· Lokpal will have its own inquiry wing for preliminary enquiry. If a prima facie case is established, Lokpal can refer the case for investigation to any agency, including the CBI. It will have power of superintendence and direction over any investigation agency for all cases referred by it.· Lokpal will have an independent prosecution wing. Once the investigation is completed, Lokpal may direct its prosecution wing or the agency concerned to initiate the prosecution.· Separating the CBI’s investigation and prosecution functions, the Bill creates a directorate of prosecution linked to the agency. The directorate will be headed by a prosecutor reporting to the CBI director.· The Bill enhances the maximum punishment for corruption from 7 years to 10 years. The minimum term for any conviction to a corruption case will be 2 years.· The Bill makes it mandatory for every state to set up within a year a Lokayukta, the corresponding ombudsman for public servants in states.
