STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha (LS) on Wednesday unanimously passed an amendment to the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act 2013 moved by Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh, seeking to defer the provision of Section-44 pertaining to the declaration of assets and the same being made public in relation to public servants and NGOs. While moving the amendment, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the Modi Government is committed in its crusade against corruption and does not, in any way, wish to compromise on the provisions for checking corruption as envisaged in the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act.
In fact, he said, if need be and if so suggested by unanimity, the government can even think of making provisions more stringent.
However, Dr Jitendra explained there is an urgency to move the following amendment because of certain peculiar circumstances.
Narrating a brief sequence of chronology of events, Dr Jitendra said, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill became law in January 2014, but when the present government took over in May 2014 and started the exercise of implementing the law, it noticed certain missing links which required to be addressed.
Citing an example, he said, for instance, there was a provision to have leader of opposition in Lok Sabha as one of the Members of the Selection Committee though in the 16th Lok Sabha there is no acknowledged Leader of Opposition and therefore, wished to bring an amendment to enable the leader of largest opposition party to be accommodated as the Member in the Committee instead.
Dr Singh recalled that a series of such amendments in the form of a Bill were introduced by him in the Lok Sabha in December 2014 and even though a short discussion took place, but soon on the unanimous opinion of the House, the Bill was referred to the Standing Committee of the House, which submitted its report in December 2015.
Even as this Report is being deliberated upon by the Government, Dr Jitendra Singh said, an urgency has arisen to specifically bring an amendment, particularly in relation to Section-44 because, it pertains to the deadline of 31st July before which the public servants and the NGOs are required to file their assets and liabilities and there are only three days left. The government, Dr Jitendra said, has sought to obtain opinions from all sections of society,all stake holders and the entire political spectrum including Members of Parliament from different political Parties.
Finally, the opinion emerged that since the law is being framed after detailed deliberations by the Standing Committee, the same is required to be reconsidered in depth and the government is open to the idea of amending the law, the same can only be done after considering the recommendations of the Standing Committee.
It is therefore appropriate, he said, that the matter be examined afresh and take a decision on the concerns raised expeditiously, if possible, by the next session of the Parliament.
The provision of the Act requiring the declaration of assets and liabilities by public servants and persons connected with Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) which receive funding from foreign sources or are wholly or partially financed from the State would therefore be deferred till then, suggested Dr Jitendra Singh adding that once the final decision is arrived at, the declaration of assets and liabilities can be made in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
Following a brief discussion, the House unanimously passed the Bill which will be now taken up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha, possibly tomorrow.
