Draft Lokpal Bill to be finalized after consultations with political parties: Govt.

Draft Lokpal Bill to be finalized after consultations with political parties: Govt.

The government has said the draft of the Lokpal Bill will undergo changes after consultations with political parties and other members of the civil society. Speaking to PTI in an interview, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said, one of the key members of the joint committee for drafting the Lokpal Bill emphasised that the draft bill prepared by the five ministers was not the final bill. Mr Sibal said it will go through changes after getting inputs not just from other political parties but also other members of civil society.

The minister said civil society is not to be used again in drafting of law. The government is holding a meeting with political parties on the issue on July 3. Mr Sibal maintained that Anna Hazare and his associates had wanted to create an authority outside the system which would be accountable to nobody. Mr Sibal asserted that this could not be allowed to happen.