Thaindian News

New Delhi, Dec 5 (IANS) The parliamentary panel studying the Lokpal bill will meet Wednesday to adopt the final draft, following which the much-awaited report could be presented in parliament next week.

“The panel will meet briefly Dec 7 to adopt the final draft. The report could be tabled in parliament after 4-5 days once its translation, printing and binding is complete,” Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on law and justice, told IANS.

The development comes in the wake of Anna Hazare’s threats to hold a day-long protest Dec 11 to press demand for a strong Lokpal bill and an extended agitation Dec 27-Jan 5 if the legislation is not passed in the winter session, which ends Dec 22.

At its last meeting Dec 1, the panel was divided over decision to keep around 5.7 million Group C employees of the government out of the purview of the anti-graft ombudsman, leading to ten panel members submitting a note of dissent on the draft report.

Besides, Group C staff, the panel is also divided on issues like inclusion of the prime minister under the Lokpal, Lokayuktas in states, a citizens’ charter, and the manner of appointing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s director.

Singhvi had said the division would be reflected in the final report.

Sources said the dissent note has been submitted by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Samajwadi Party.

The Biju Janata Dal representative, who sided with the Congress members on the issue of keeping Group C employees out, has given a separate dissent note on the selection process of the CBI director.

Another member, Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, has also given a dissent note, asking for reservation for Dalits, backward castes and minorities in the Lokpal panel.