The Delhi Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has approved the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill, 2015. The Aam Aadmi Party has 67 MLAs in the 70-member House.
- The Bill envisages the establishment of an independent authority to investigate offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and also covers the chief minister’s office.
About Jan Lokpal Bill
Jan Lokpal Bill aka Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill, is an anti-corruption bill drafted and drawn up by civil society activists in India seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body to investigate corruption cases.
Key features of bill
- Â To establish a central government anti-corruption institution called Lokpal.
- It will supervised by Cabinet Secretary and the Election Commission.
- It will be completely independent of Govt and free from ministerial influence in its investigations.
- Members will be appointed by judges, Indian Administrative Service officers with a clean record, private citizens and constitutional authorities through a transparent process.
- A selection committee will invite short-listed candidates for interviews, the video recordings of which will thereafter be made public.
- Inquiry has to be completed within 60 days and investigation to be completed within 6 months.
- Complaints against any officer of Lokpal will be investigated and completed within 1 month.
- Whistle-blowers who alert the agency to potential corruption cases will also be provided with protection.
Background
Exactly one year and nine months ago, the then AAP cabinet in February 2014 cleared the Jan Lokpal Bill. But before it could be tabled in the Assembly and approved the Lieutenant-Governor objected to it as the Bill required prior clearance from the Centre, which the AAP government conveniently ignored, leading the BJP and Congress to call it unconstitutional.
- The Bill, once passed by the assembly will be sent to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for his approval.