Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Lok Sabha tomorrow

The much talked about Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Lok Sabha on Thursday, says Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal.

Minister of State for Personnel V Narayanasamy today gave a notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to waive the two-day period so that the Lokpal bill could be introduced tomorrow.

"Our paperwork is complete. We have written to the Speaker and it is up to her to take a decision," Narayanasamy told PTI.

Bansal told reporters separately that said since all parties favour introduction of the bill at the earliest, Narayanasamy wrote to the Speaker.

The Speaker can waive the two-day period which is required to distribute copies of any new bill to political parties so that they come prepared during the introduction.

On the eve of the Monsoon session, Bansal had said the bill would be introduced by August 3 and referred to the Standing Committee "forthwith".

Government hopes that if the Standing Committee comes out with its recommendations on the bill by August-end, then the government could go ahead with its passage.

The Lokpal Bill seeks to keep the office of the Prime Minister outside the purview of the ombudsman during his term in office and also exclude higher judiciary and conduct of MPs inside Parliament. The bill gives permission to Lokpal to probe any Union minister or officials of Group 'A' and above rank without any sanction.

The Lokpal, consisting of Chairperson and eight members, half of them judicial, will have its own prosecution and investigation wing with officers and staff necessary to carry out its functions.