Sreenu
Sreenu
Sreenu
Lokpal bill was meant for reducing the corruption at higher level. There were laws
especially to tackle at lower levels, but there is no specific law which can check the
corruption at higher levels. There is Central Vigilance Commission for overseeing
corruption charges against officers. In the same manner, there is need of a mechanism
which can create a good environment at higher stage.
History of Lokpal bill
In 1968, Mrs. Indira Gandhi had proposed Lokpal bill in Parliament. But, dissolution
of Lok Sabha had not given chance to the bill to fructify. There were total ten attempts
in 42 years of time, but the bill was not made into the law.
• There were two attempts by Mrs. Indira Gandhi to bring this bill into
law in 1968 and 1971. They met failures due to dissolution of Lok Sabha two
times.
• This time Rajiv Gandhi had taken initiative for this bill in 1985. Again
the same issue of dissolution haunted.
• In 1989, V.P. Singh had proposed the bill but later taken back.
• In 1996, Deve Gowda government had taken the issue and no decision
was taken until dissolution of Lok Sabha.
• In 1998 and 2001, A.B. Vajpayee had taken the issue of Lokpal, but the
situation was not changed.
Now, there was prepared a new Lokpal bill 2010 to be passed as law.
Criticism against Lokpal bill
• Lokpal cannot take any case as suo motu. People have to make their
complaints with speaker of Lok Sabha or chairperson of Rajya Sabha. The
complaints which are approved by them will reach Lok Pal. As speaker of
Lok Sabha is on the side of ruling party, he may not work transparently on
that issue. Hence, the intent of bill will not be fulfilled.