The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the anti-graft legislation saw changes being made during its course, prior to it being passed in the Rajya Sabha.
While most political parties and the Government supported its passing, others such as the Samajwadi Party and the Aam Aadmi Party vehemently oppose it for different reasons.
According to media reports the Aam Aadmi Party, a political offshoot of the India against corruption movement that had been demanding a Jan Lokpal Bill since 2011, feels that that the new Bill is different from its formerly proposed Bill, and have dubbed the new Bill as the “Jokepal” bill.
Some of the key differentiators, and the bone of contention, amongst others are those related to ‘whistleblower protection’ and the Citizens Charter. The new Bill makes no mention of provisions for whistleblower’s protection, and the citizen’s charter. You can go through both versions, the salient features of the new Bill are available at http://goo.gl/hGZOLH and the Jan Lokpal Bill at http://goo.gl/cNwjhX.
What do you think, does the newly passed Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill have enough teeth, or would the AAP’s proposed Jan Lokpal Bill been more effective in reining in corruption. Write to us at bloncampus@thehindu.co.in