Times
of India: New Delhi: Friday, 04 December 2015.
National
Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI) has put out a detailed
analysis on the Kejriwal government's Delhi Janlokpal Bill 2015. Pointing out that
as per the draft the Janlokpal is not independent of the government, the report
also questions the silence over how expenses will be met.
NCPRI, which
has been continuously questioning the government's decision to bring the bill
without any public consultations, has now delivered its verdict on the contents
and also given recommendations on how it can be made into a strong law.
A statement
from NCPRI reads: "The NCPRI has maintained that a Lokpal should be
independent, empowered, with appropriate jurisdiction, adequately accountable
and realistically workable. We have consistently advocated that separate
institutions with requisite jurisdiction and powers be set-up to investigate
and prosecute corruption of elected officials and bureaucracy; of the judiciary;
and separately to redress grievances of citizens."
"The
draft seems to propose that the Delhi Janlokpal would also have jurisdiction
over judges of the high court and Supreme Court for complaints of offences
allegedly committed in the union territory of Delhi. Apart from this, the bill
also has various weaknesses and deficiencies," the statement adds.
It has also
been pointed out that the selection committee for appointing the Lokpal is
biased in favour of the ruling party, with two of the four members being from
the government (the CM and speaker). This curtails independence of the Lokpal.
"Further, the bill envisages an even-numbered selection committee without
providing for a solution to an impasse," NCPRI states.
The agency
has also questioned the procedure for dealing with complaints against the Janlokpal
chairperson and its members as well as the process of removal. "It is
essential that the assembly in no way be involved in this process and
complaints against the members of the Lokpal be received directly by the chief
justice of HC and SC, who should have the complaints probed and, if warranted,
recommend their removal to the LG."
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