Highlights of govt's Position on Lokpal Essay

on 20 Dec 2011-Essay Points
PM under Lokpal with heavy safeguard: Decision on foreign policy and security not to come under scanner.

Citizens Charter: Bill will be moved with lokpal bill. Final authority on complaints will be under lokpal.

CBI: Special procedure to appoint director, other top officers to give it more autonomy. An independent directorate of prosecution to be set up.

Lower Bureaucracy: In principle, it will be under lokpal. CVC will go through complaints first and file status reports with lokpal.

Source : Hindustan Times
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Jan 31, 2013-the centre today amended the Lokpal Bill , delinking it from setting up of Lokayuktas in the states.

Union cabinet accepted 14 of 16 recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha select committee ; which was set up in may last year. This bill was stuck in Rajya Sabha since Dec 2013.

* The probe agency will have to complete its investigation within six months.

* The Lokpal bench will then consider the probe report and ask its prosecution wing to file a charge sheet in a special court, depending on the probe findings.

* One opportunity will be given to a public servant to present his /her views against whom the probe is being conducted.

*Lokpal will not require any sanction from a competent authority of a public servant either at the time of initiating a preliminary inquiry or filing a charge sheet in  court.

*Special courts will have to decide the case within a year.

Appeals against orders of the Lokpal can be filled in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme court.

Expense of the Lokpal:

* All salaries, allowances and pensions payable to all its staff shall be charged from the Consolidated Fund of India.

*Lokpal shall prepare its budget estimates for the nest year during the current financial year to allow the government to have an idea of its expenses and make advance provision for it.

Source: Hindustan Times dated 23-12-2011