Lokpal to be a constitutional body:will be “more powerful than the Election Commission” and “will have far greater powers” Khurshid

Lokpal to be a constitutional body: Khurshid

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New Delhi: The proposed Lokpal will have the status of a Constitutional authority for which purpose the Constitution will be amended, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid disclosed on Tuesday night.

The Lokpal will be “more powerful than the Election Commission” and “will have far greater powers”, Khurshid said.

A Constitutional amendment bill is to be introduced in the Winter session of Parliament starting next month, Khurshid told PTI in an interview.

The Lokpal will be “more powerful than the Election Commission” and “will have far greater powers”, Khurshid said. AFP

The move for a Constitutional body is a follow-up to the proposal made by AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi at last month’s Lok Sabha debate on Lokpal, Khurshid confirmed this.

Asked about the composition of the Lokpal, the Law Minister said the proposal was to have a 11-member body, at least 50 percent of whom will have judicial background, such as former judges of Supreme Court and High Courts.

“We are working on a very strong Lokpal Bill. A Lokpal Bill that will come with a Constitutional amendment. That amendment will give the Lokpal the status of a Constitutional authority,” he said.

The non-judicial members in the anti-corruption body will be from civil society, including those who have worked on corruption issues and good governance such as those who have held high positions in investigative agencies.

Khurshid confirmed that the proposal was with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Grievances and Department of Personnel.

The Law Minister said the proposal had not yet been formally considered by the Union Cabinet but the sense in the government and the party was for a Lokpal that will have Constitutional status.

Elaborating on the move to make Lokpal an effective body, Khurshid said, “If you want to put your faith in a body which is so powerful, that body must be of stature that is compatible with the functions they are to perform.”

Referring to the debate in Lok Sabha on Lokpal, he said Gandhi had provided a “major value addition” to the setting up of the ombudsman.

“The entire material of the debate was sent to the Standing Committee. Rahul Gandhi’s speech was also taken note of and sent there. From my point of view, it was a value addition. We want that value addition to be seen as value addition and not simply as a strategium to delay or bypass the main intentions,” the Law Minister said.

“I think the party would take the line given to us by Rahul Gandhi and also it appeals to our senses,” he said.

On dealing with Anna Hazare, Khurshid said there is a political dimension to it and some kind of dialogue was held with the civil activists under the leadership of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

PTI