Lokpal Bill drafting put on fast track

The Joint Drafting Committee on Lokpal Bill on Monday decided to fast track the process of preparing the anti-corruption legislation as civil society representatives submitted two documents to the government outlining "principles and objects" for the proposed law.

"The civil society members on the joint drafting committee presented a document with respect to the objects of the bill as well as a document which enunciated the general principles underlying the bill," HRD Minister and government representative in the committee Kapil Sibal told media persons after the second meeting of the committee.

In a bid to fast track the drafting of the bill ahead of June 30 deadline, the committee agreed to meet again on May 7, 23 and 30 to discuss the Bill. The committee may even meet on daily basis in June to keep with the deadline to help government introduce the bill in the Monsoon session, a member said.

"The talks were very good. The civil society members and we will think about the proposals given by both sides and discuss again in our next meeting to be held on May 7. But the meeting was very good, very cooperative. There was no difference of opinion," Sibal said.

Civil society member and lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the main focus of today's meeting was the basic principles behind the Jan Lokpal Bill.

"The

discussion was on essential features, objects and reasons of the Bill which has been prepared according to the main provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption," Bhushan said.

The documents also highlight the need to set up an effective anti-corruption mechanism so that the faith of the people in the system remains intact, sources said.

Both sides agreed to reflect on the documents as well as other suggestions made in the meeting before the next sitting of the group on May 7.

Before the introduction in Parliament, the bill has to be cleared by the Union Cabinet.

Replying to a question, Sibal said there was no difference of opinion during the meeting. The civil society members explained the principles and objects they had in mind for the Lokpal Bill and "broadly discussed" the issue.

"The meeting was extremely conducive to the dialogue that we have decided to initiate. We hope that by June 30 we would have decided on the broad contours and drafted a Lokpal Bill to be introduced in Parliament," Sibal said.

He insisted that everything was going according to the plan and the objective is to have a strong Lokpal Bill to "fight the malaise of corruption".

The first meeting of the joint committee, formed after Gandhian Anna Hazare led an agitation to press the demand, was held on April 16.