Lokpal appointment: After delay, govt on tightrope ahead of June deadline to formulate rules for anti-corruption body

Government is walking a tightrope as it has set a 15 June deadline to draft a set of rules for the functioning of proposed anti-corruption authority Lokpal. New Delhi: The government is walking a tightrope as it has set a 15 June deadline to draft a set of rules for the functioning of the proposed anti-corruption authority Lokpal, that would have powers to probe into allegations of corruption against the prime minister and his council of ministers, besides top public servants. Firstpost has reviewed government documents that state the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is putting its heads together along with assistance from other stakeholders to draft “eleven rules under section 59 of the Lokpal Act, which would define a charter for complaints, the appointment of officers and other matters related to the power of Lokpal”. The Lokpal and the Lokayukta Act, 2013, which has remained stuck in bureaucrats’ files since it was passed by Parliament four years ago, had clearly outlined that the “Lokpal shall inquire or cause an inquiry to be conducted into any matter involved in, or arising from, or connected with, any allegation of corruption made in a complaint in respect of any person who is or has been a prime minister.” The ministry, it is learnt, is cautiously defining the nature of ‘complaints’ Lokpal would be entitled to entertain since it would form the basis for inquiry against the top office bearers of governments. Sub-section 11 of Section 20 in the Act said: “The Lokpal may retain the original records and evidence which are likely to be required in the process of preliminary inquiry or investigation or conduct of a case by it or by the special court.” The Ministry of Personnel is also looking into rules related to appointment of officers and other staff of the Lokpal.