As expected, discussions between the government and civil society representatives on the drafting of a Lokpal Bill are headed for a breakdown with both sides admitting there’s no agreement on any of the fundamental issues.
As a result, in what could be a first, two versions of the draft Bill could be sent to the Cabinet, leaving it to take a final call on the Bill.
Sources said the government has already decided that whether the two sides agree on a single draft Bill or not, it would go ahead and introduce a Lokpal Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. After a two-hour meeting this afternoon, the two sides agreed only on the date of their next meeting, probably the last, on June 20 and, if needed, June 21.
The contentious issues like inclusion of the Prime Minister, the higher judiciary and the MPs under the Lokpal’s ambit, did not even come up for discussion today.
“It was not at all satisfactory,” was the prompt reply from Justice Santosh Hegde, speaking to The Indian Express, immediately after the meeting was over. There was disagreement even on the “basic issues,” he added.
Echoing this was Union Minister Kapil Sibal: “There was no consensus on basic issues with regard to the form of Lokpal Bill. Structurally there is no convergence of opinion over what the office of Lokpal should be like — both at the Centre and state-level.”
“We shall meet again and in case there is no consensus, both sides will go ahead with their version of Bill. A draft Lokpal Bill will be sent to Cabinet by June 30, which shall have version of the ministers of the government as well as the Jan Lokpal bill (drafted by the civil society),” the minister said.
As a result, in what could be a first, two versions of the draft Bill could be sent to the Cabinet, leaving it to take a final call on the Bill.
Sources said the government has already decided that whether the two sides agree on a single draft Bill or not, it would go ahead and introduce a Lokpal Bill in the monsoon session of Parliament. After a two-hour meeting this afternoon, the two sides agreed only on the date of their next meeting, probably the last, on June 20 and, if needed, June 21.
The contentious issues like inclusion of the Prime Minister, the higher judiciary and the MPs under the Lokpal’s ambit, did not even come up for discussion today.
“It was not at all satisfactory,” was the prompt reply from Justice Santosh Hegde, speaking to The Indian Express, immediately after the meeting was over. There was disagreement even on the “basic issues,” he added.
Echoing this was Union Minister Kapil Sibal: “There was no consensus on basic issues with regard to the form of Lokpal Bill. Structurally there is no convergence of opinion over what the office of Lokpal should be like — both at the Centre and state-level.”
“We shall meet again and in case there is no consensus, both sides will go ahead with their version of Bill. A draft Lokpal Bill will be sent to Cabinet by June 30, which shall have version of the ministers of the government as well as the Jan Lokpal bill (drafted by the civil society),” the minister said.
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