Lokpal Bill Passed By Voice Vote in Lok Sabha Wednesday Dec 18,2013

The Bill was passed after a brief debate amidst protests over Telangana and will now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee to his signature after which it will become a law

Members from Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena, opposed the bill and staged a walkout in protest

The Lok Sabha had allotted four hours to debate the Bill, which provides for a powerful national ombudsman to investigate wrongdoing in government, but wrapped it up in less than an hour and voted on it amid slogan-shouting by Andhra Pradesh MPs opposed to the creation of Telangana

Just like in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party were on the same page and ensured that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill was passed without any hiccups despite opposition from the Samajwadi Party.

While the BJP-led NDA and Congress-led UPA are fighting for the credits over the passage of the bill, the Aam Aadmi Party, which was formed out of the protests over the Lokpal Bill has said the present form of the Bill won't help to fight corruption. "This Lokpal Bill won't help to curb corruption. Anna Hazare is being misguided. I don't know who is misguiding him," said Prashant Bhusam, AAP 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said
“It is a historic and landmark legislation and we are very happy that Parliament in its wisdom has chosen to enact this legislation.”

Sonia Gandhi said she was “very happy” over the passage of the bill

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said -
“If you want to actually fight corruption, we need a framework to fight corruption. The Congress party has bills in the pipeline that need to be passed ''

Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj supported the measure but attacked the Congress for clamouring to take credit for it, saying “the people of this country and the old man (Anna Hazare) who has undertaken fast several times deserve the credit.”

Anna Hazare and Kiran Bedi watch the Lokpal Bill debate in the Rajya Sabha on television from his fast venue in Ralegan Siddhi.

Note
The Lokpal Bill creates a new independent agency empowered to investigate charges of graft among government servants. In December, 2011, the Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha but was stalled in the Rajya Sabha. It was then sent to a parliamentary committee for review.

Lokpal Bill Passed By Voice Vote in Rajya Sabha Tuesday Dec 17,2013


Key Provions of the Bill

1)Lokpal members shall not be affiliated to any political party

2)A panel of Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) and Chief Justice of India to appoint the Lokpal

3)An eminent jurist to be one of the members of Lokpal. The President of India to appoint eminent jurist on the recommendations of the selection panel

4)The Prime Minister's Office will be under the Lokpal's purview. The body also covers societies, trusts and associations funded by the government. Non-Governmental Organisations or NGOs remain outside its ambit

5)Investigations under the Lokpal to be time-bound. A maximum punishment of 10 years for those convicted under the Act

6)CBI to have separate Director (Prosecution), to be appointed on the recommendations of the Chief Vigilance Commissioner, who reports to the agency's director. CBI Director and Director (Prosecution) to have fixed term of two years

7)Transfer of investigating officers can only take place with the approval of the Lokpal

8)President can suspend a Lokpal member on the recommendation or interim order of the Supreme Court. A Lokpal member can be removed by the President after a Supreme Court inquiry.

9)Supreme Court can probe Lokpal member on reference from President of India after a petition signed by at least 100 Members of Parliament.

10)Each state must have a Lokayukta within one year of the notification of the Lokpal Act