House to decide PM ambit issue
In a sudden U-turn, the parliamentary standing committee looking into the Lokpal Bill on Thursday gave its nod to the exclusion of Group C officials from the proposed ombudsman law and to not tampering with the present selection process of the CBI chief despite objections from at least 10 members.
It, however, failed to take a decision over the inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal, deciding instead to leave the issue for the floor of the two Houses of Parliament. In the meeting, several members, mostly from the Congress, said Group C officials should not be brought under the Lokpal as it would put “too much pressure” on a new institution. They also said the appointment of the CBI director was not under the jurisdiction of the committee as the Lokpal Bill was aimed at creating the institution of the ombudsman.
At least 10 members, mainly from the BJP, SP, CPI(M), BJD and RSP, opposed the “sudden U-turn”, saying a decision taken by the committee earlier cannot be amended. “If they have reservations, they should give a dissent note,” BJP member Kirti Azad said.
However, ignoring their contention, panel chairman Abhishek Singhvi is learnt to have agreed to the exclusion of Group C employees and not tinkering with the selection process of the CBI chief.
Congress sources said “the sense of the meeting” overwhelmingly was to exclude Group C and not to change the appointment procedure for CBI director. Saying that deliberations over the Lokpal Bill were completed today and that the members will meet just once more to adopt the report, sources said, “It has been decided to leave to Parliament the decision to include or exclude the PM from the ambit of the Lokpal.”
As part of suggestions on the issue it has been decided to give three options to MPs on the floor of the House to decide on, sources added.
Meanwhile, sources in the BJP said the draft report approved by the chairman failed to honour the “sense of the Lok Sabha” expressed in the Monsoon Session as all three issues — inclusion of lower bureaucracy, citizens’ charter and selection of the CBI chief — have been ignored.
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