Delhi's AAP govt hopes to get Jan Lokpal Bill passed on 16 Feb

New Delhi: A special assembly session will be called on February 13, 14, 15 and 16 to pass the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill. Delhi Education Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters following the cabinet meet that the last day of the session will be held in the Indira Gandhi Stadium and requested Delhi’s public to come and witness the bill’s passage. The first three days will be a closed session held at the Delhi Assembly.

The decision to move the venue for the open assembly session from Ram Leela Maidan to the Indira Gandhi Stadium seems to have come after the Delhi Police raised security concerns. The IG stadium has a capacity of 15,000 people.

Speaking about what transpired at the cabinet meet, Sisodia told reporters that some departments had raised “some observations” about the draft and that the cabinet would meet again on Monday to discuss the bill. Sisodia, however, did not specify what “observations” the departments had made about the bill.

Highlights of the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill

- The Delhi Lokpal bill differs from Centre’s Lokpal in the quantum punishment, composition of the selection panel, the jurisdiction of the ombudsman and the inclusion of the whistle-blower and witness protection and the citizen charter.

- The maximum punishment under Delhi government’s Jan Lokpal Bill is life imprisonment and the minimum is six months.

- The Delhi Jan Lokpal will comprise 10 members plus one chairman. The selection panel for the Lokpal will comprise only two politicians - the chief minister, the leader of opposition. The others in the selection panel will be two sitting High Court judges, two eminent persons and a former a Lokayukta.

- There will be no caveat on  public servants who can be prosecuted. The CM will also come under the Delhi Lokpal. The Lokpal will be able to take suo moto cognisance of cases and will have unfettered powers to probe cases of corruption.

- The anti-corruption bureau will be merged with the  Delhi Lokpal and with that  the Delhi Police and the Delhi Development Authority will be brought under the ambit of Delhi Jan  Lokpal.

- The Delhi Lokpal will also include provisions for whistleblower protection, witness protection and include a citizen’s charter.