After Prime Minister Manmhon Singh expressing keenness during the Independence Day speech to pass the lokpal Bill, the Government is planning to push for its consideration in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions V Narayanasamy said that he has given a notice for discussion on Bill, but the date will be decided by the Business Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha. He said that the Government wants the legislation to be passed and it may be taken up by the Rajya Sabha during the current session which closes this month end. The lokpal and lokayuktas Bill, 2011 was passed in lok Sabha on December 27, 2011, but due to sharp differences between the Government and Opposition which pressed for numerous amendment, it was referred to a Rajya Sabha Select Committee in May last year.
Based on the report of the Committee submitted in November, 2012, the Cabinet had on January 31, approved amendments to the bill, delinking it from the setting up of lokayuktas in States and transferring powers of sanction of prosecution against public servant to the ombudsman. The approval to the official amendments had paved the way for consideration of the Bill afresh by the Rajya Sabha. But it could not be passed by the House during the Winter Session and the Budget Session due to repeated adjournments. But now even if Rajya Sabha passes the amended Bill during the current session, it will go back for fresh approval to lok Sabha.