Parliamentary panel seeks public opinion on Lokpal Bill

New Delhi, Aug 20 (PTI) A Parliamentary committee
examining the Lokpal Bill on Saturday sought suggestions from
public within 15 days, making it clear that the August 30
deadline set by Anna Hazare on passing the anti-corruption
legislation would not be met.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice
and Personnel issued an advertisement in dailies outlining
salient features of the Bill and asking people to send their
opinions and suggestions within 15 days.
While 15 days is the standard time given by
Parliamentary panels to people or organisations to send
feedback on bills, the time-frame in this case makes it clear
that the deadline of August 30 set by Hazare for passing the
Lokpal Bill will not be met.
Soon after the bill was introduced in Lok Sabha (lower
house of Indian Parliament) on August 4, the Rajya Sabha
(upper house of Indian Parliament) Chairman had referred it to
the Committee and given it three months to give
recommendations.
The Standing Committee on Law and Justice and Personnel
is serviced by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat and is headed by a
Rajya Sabha member – in this case Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Soon after the bill was referred to it, the Committee
had invited team Hazare to place its views before the panel.
The Hazare team appeared before the Committee later.
Home Minister P Chidambaram recently said Hazare was
free to give his views to the panel once again.
Reacting to the newspaper advertisement, Hazare's
associate Arvind Kejriwal said it appeared to be an exercise
which will waste the time of people and Parliamentarians.
"We appeared before the Standing Committee earlier and
told them that the present bill is actually for promotion of
corruption and save the corrupt people," he said.