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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Voice to Anna bill fears by Pheroze L Vincent

Voice to Anna bill fears by Pheroze L Vincent

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published Published on Nov 17, 2011   modified Modified on Nov 17, 2011

Two confederations that represent most Indian Christians have voiced fears that Team Anna’s version of the proposed Lokpal law will disturb the separation of powers among the three wings of democracy.

In a memorandum submitted to the Centre, the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) also suggested ways to strengthen the government’s Lokpal bill, which they said was weak.

The confederations said though Anna Hazare and his group had been able to “capture the imagination of common people”, their version of the proposed bill “disturbs the balance of power of the judiciary, the executive and the legislative arms of the country”.

Rahul Gandhi, in his speech on the bill in Parliament in August, had stressed the importance of the democratic process and raised the question of the future of plurality in the country.

“Individual dictates, no matter how well intentioned, must not weaken the democratic process…. Today the proposed law is against corruption. Tomorrow the target may be something less universally heralded. It may attack the plurality of our society and democracy,” he had said.

The Hazare team wants to bring the judiciary under the purview of the anti-graft ombudsman apart from the lower bureaucracy. It also wants the Lokpal to have powers to investigate actions of MPs inside Parliament.

The confederations called for strengthening the government’s version of the draft legislation, saying “India lacks the political will to come up with a strong” Lokpal bill, despite its “ratification” of the UN Convention against Corruption.

“We also recognise the weaknesses in the government bill,” they said in the memorandum signed by office-bearers of the NCCI, a federation of Protestant and orthodox churches, and the CBCI.

Another signatory to the document — framed after a series of public consultations in the capital — was the Young Women’s Christian Association, a member of the NCCI.

The suggestions to strengthen the proposed law include bringing private companies within the Lokpal’s ambit. The proposed bill already has the provision of including PSUs within the Lokpal’s purview.

One suggestion dealt with safeguards in the Lokpal’s jurisdiction over the Prime Minister. It said the Lokpal “should have jurisdiction over the Prime Minister” but “with certain riders”, though what the riders should be has not been specified.

While it calls for the inclusion of parliamentarians within the Lokpal’s ambit, the confederations want continuation of their privileges under Article 105 of the Constitution, which guarantees MPs freedom of speech in Parliament.

As part of grievance redress mechanism, the memorandum wants additional charters for backward classes, minorities, women and children.


The Telegraph, 18 November, 2011, http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111118/jsp/nation/story_14767521.jsp


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