All you want to know about the Lokpal Bill

Not exactly sure why Anna Hazare is on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar? Or why
thousands of people across the country have joined in street protests? For those who
came in late, here's all you need to know about the Lokpal Bill, which is at the centre
of the activists' anti-corruption demands.

WHAT IS LOKPAL BILL?

The Bill was introduced for the first time in 1969. The draft was passed in Lok Sabha,
but never made it through Rajya Sabha. Subsequently, the government's version of the
Bill was introduced nine times - in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005
and 2008 in Parliament, but never got cleared.

WHAT DOES THE BILL AIM TO ACHIEVE?

The broad aim of the Bill is to free the country of corruption in politics and
bureaucracy, by instituting the Lokpal at the centre, and a Lokayukta in each state.
The Lokpal and Lokayukta, according to the version of the Bill the protestors want,
must be completely independent of any governments — on the lines of the Election
Commission or the SC. The common man can take complaints of corruption to the
Lokpal or Lokayukta, who will investigate the same within specific time-frames.

WHAT'S THE DISPUTE NOW?

The government's versions of the Bill, say Hazare and his supporters, is weak. Several
civil society members have drafted their version of the Lokpal Bill. Anna Hazare
wants this version of the Bill to be implemented - or at least wants representation for
civil society when the new version of the Bill is drafted.

WHY'S THE GOVERNMENT'S VERSION OF THE BILL WEAK?

According to the government's draft of the Bill, the Lokpal will not have the power to
either initiate action suo motu in a case or even receive complaints of corruption from
the general public. The general public will have to make complaints to the Speaker of
the Lok Sabha or chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Only those complaints forwarded
by Speaker of Lok Sabha/ Chairperson of Rajya Sabha to Lokpal would be
investigated by Lokpal.

HOW DOES IT HELP ME?

If you're having trouble getting a ration card, or a passport or a voter ID made, you
can make your complaint straight to the Lokpal or the Lokayukta. In Civil Society's
version of the Bill, the Lokpal will have to ensure your work gets done within a month
of the complaint. As for allegations of corruption, the timeframes specified are one
year for the Lokpal to complete its investigations and one more year for the trial. This
is aimed at making sure cases do not drag on for years, as they do now.

WHAT STOPS THE GOVERNMENT FROM APPOINTING CORRUPT AND

WEAK PEOPLE AS LOKPAL MEMBERS?
This will be practically impossible as its members will be selected by judges, citizens
and constitutional authorities through a completely transparent process.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO EXISTING ANTICORRUPTION AGENCIES?

The CVC, departmental vigilance and anti-corruption branch of the CBI will be
merged into the Lokpal, giving the Lokpal complete powers and the machinery to
independently investigate and prosecute any officer, judge or politician. This is
according to Civil Society's version of the Bill of course. In the government's version,
the Lokpal has been proposed to be an advisory body.

WHO QUALIFIES TO BE PART OF THE LOKPAL?

According to the gevernment's version, the Lokpal will consist of three members, all
retired judges. Civil Society's version doesn't see any reason the choice should be
restricted to judiciary. Also, according to the government's version, the Lokpal will
not have powers to investigate any case against PM, or those that deal with foreign
affairs, security and defence, which Hazare's supporters feel isn't fair.