Lokpal bill approved; PM in, CBI, lower bureaucracy out (Second Lead)
December 21st, 2011 - 12:21 am ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Dec 20 (IANS) The union cabinet Tuesday approved the much-awaited Lokpal bill, bringing the prime minister under the anti-graft ombudsman with riders but excluding the CBI and the lower bureaucracy. Anna Hazare slammed the move, terming the government “dishonest” and vowed to launch his hunger strike Dec 27.
The cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh approved the bill after an hour-long meeting in the parliament house.
The bill is likely to be introduced and put up for consideration and passage in Lok Sabha Dec 22, the scheduled last day of the winter session.
This means the parliament may be extended just for a day for this purpose.
However, the Lok Sabha’s Business Advisory Committee will take a final call on the issue Wednesday.
There are two proposals - to discuss the Lokpal bill on Dec 22 and 23 or to discuss the bill during an extended period of the winter session Dec 27-29.
Accepting only one point - appointment of Lokayuktas in states from the sense of the house resolution conveyed to haz in August this year, the bill has kept out the other key demand - lower bureaucracy from coming under the Lokpal.
While the bill puts the lower bureaucracy under the Central Vigilance Commissioner with the superintendency of the Lokpal, it says the ombudsman would have no investigation wing and will only have a prosecution department with lawyers under it.
- Lokpal bill with PM in but CBI out approved, Hazare furious (Roundup) - Dec 21, 2011
- Lokpal bill approved: PM in but CBI out (Lead) - Dec 20, 2011
- Government plans Lokpal bill in winter session; Anna threatens agitation - Dec 15, 2011
- Special cabinet meeting on Lokpal likely Monday - Dec 16, 2011
- Cabinet to discuss Lokpal bill Tuesday, Hazare calls it worthless (Roundup) - Dec 19, 2011
- Working on Lokpal bill, Anna should be patient: Government (Lead) - Dec 16, 2011
- Lokpal debate begins in Lok Sabha - Dec 27, 2011
- Lokpal bill in parliament Thursday, Sonia says she will fight for it (Roundup) - Dec 21, 2011
- Lokpal panel still divided on inclusion of PM (Lead) - Nov 30, 2011
- Cabinet to discuss Lokpal Tuesday, Hazare calls it worthless (Lead) - Dec 19, 2011
- Winter session extended; Lokpal, food bills to be moved Thursday (Second Lead) - Dec 21, 2011
- BJP slams government on Lokpal, moots amendments to bill (Lead) - Dec 26, 2011
- Lokpal panel still divided on inclusion of PM (Second Lead) - Nov 30, 2011
- Team Anna writes to PM, wants CBI under Lokpal (Lead) - Dec 25, 2011
- Bansal appeals to Lok Sabha to pass Lokpal bill - Dec 26, 2011
Tags: advisory committee, anna hazare, bureaucracy, business advisory, cbi, final call, hunger strike, Lok Sabha, manmohan, manmohan singh, New Delhi, ombudsman, parliament house, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, prosecution, superintendency, union cabinet, vigilance, winter session