Santosh Hegde wants PM and judiciary under Lokpal ambit

Lokayukta justice N Santosh Hegde is firm on bringing the prime minister and the entire judiciary under the ambit of proposed Jan Lokpal Bill and is confident of finalising the draft bill by mid-June.
“Everybody in the central government services from Prime Minister to a postman should be brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal. Even the judiciary from the level of Supreme Court will be included in the Bill,” Hegde said.

Participating in a group discussion on ‘Lokpal Bill’, Hegde, who is also a member of the committee constituted to draft the Lokpal Bill, stated that the committee has had two meetings and final draft of the bill would be ready after 4 or 5 meetings.

The civil society representatives, led by social activist Anna Hazare, has proposed that the institution of Lokpal should have 11 members, including the Chief Lokpal, with 4 members from the judicial background, 2 from bureaucracy and 5 eminent personalities from various fields.

Hegde admitted that there was difference of opinion between civil society and government representatives on bringing the prime minister and the judiciary under the ambit of the bill. “But we are determined to ensure that prime minister is at least partially covered under the bill. There should not be any exemption for the judiciary,” he said.

A collegium comprising the prime minister, leader of opposition of Lok Sabha, two senior judges of supreme court and high court, Central Vigilance Commissioner and Comptroller and Auditor General of India would select the members for the institution.

Hegde also said that the anti-corruption wing of the CBI would function directly under the Lokpal and wanted special courts to be set up to ensure speedy trial. “We want the investigation into any case completed within 6 months and trial to be completed within 1 year of registering the case,” Hegde said.

The Lokayukta assured that the proposed institution would not be an over powerful institution as its actions would be open for judicial scrutiny.

Even defence deals, NGOs receiving government financial aid and corporate companies dealing with the government would come under Lokpal’s eagle eye.