The roller-coaster ride of the government-civil society joint drafting committee on the Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill has ended in a draw, but left both sides badly injured. Whether the tie will be broken when they present their separate recommendations to a proposed all-party committee in July remains an open question. Yet, this is a good time to draw up a balance-sheet of the government's first-ever effort to take on board civil...
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Government and civil society members differ on selection and removal of Lokpal members
Only one contentious issue came up for discussion at Monday's meeting between the government representatives and civil society members of the Joint Drafting Committee on the Lokpal Bill. It was the selection and removal of Lokpal members. The two sides differed on both counts. The government preferred a committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the leaders of both Houses, Leaders of the Opposition of both Houses, the Home...
More »Unsung, this baba starvesto death to save the Ganga by CK Chandramohan
He was on fast for 114 days seeking ban on quarrying They may worship the same gods and cite the same scripture but all babas — and their fasts — are clearly not equal. Lionised by politicians and the media, Baba Ramdev fasted for a few days before he ended his protest. At the first sign of weakness, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj rushed to pay him a visit. However, Swami Nigamanand, who...
More »Will the govt amend the RTE, ask experts
-Deccan Chronicle Even as the Right to Education (RTE) Act is yet to be implemented in schools, and the details are being endlessly debated, experts are now wondering whether the government intends to amend the RTE. Legal experts perceive a change in the way this free and compulsory education for all legislation is mandated. There is pressure on the Ministry of Human Resource Development as well several petitions lined up...
More »Thus Spake Hammurabi by Saikat Datta, Anuradha Raman
As the Lokpal Bill gets mired in a tortuous birthing, the debate shifts to who exactly has the right to pass a law Why Politicians Hate Civil Society * Unelected activists stealing Parliament’s right to make laws, undercutting role of parliamentarians * Demands like an all-powerful Lokpal directly impact political-bureaucratic class and the status quo * Rigid deadlines, fasts unto death to press home issues are akin to holding government...
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