CURRENT UPDATE : LOKPAL BILL GETS PRESIDENT PRANAB’S ASSENT

LOKPAL BILL GETS PRESIDENT PRANAB’S ASSENT

The Lokpal Bill today got the assent from President Pranab Mukherjee. The Bill provides for creation of an anti-graft watchdog, which will bring under its purview even the office of the Prime Minister with certain safeguards.

The Lok Sabha secretariat had yesterday sent to the Law Ministry a copy of the Bill, which has been signed by Speaker Meira Kumar. The Bill was then forwarded to the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the President's assent. The Bill takes the shape of the Act after signing by the President and following certain procedures. After the Presidential assent, Secretary, Legislative Department in the Law Ministry, will sign it and send it for publication in the official gazette.

The Bill aims to set up the institution of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states by law enacted by respective legislatures within one year of coming into force of the Act.

The Bill was first passed by the Lok Sabha at the fag end of the winter session of 2011, but not by the Rajya Sabha, where it was debated but the House was adjourned before voting on it. Later, a select committee of the Rajya Sabha had suggested changes in the Bill, most of which were incorporated and approved by the Union Cabinet. Following the amendments, the Rajya Sabha had passed the Bill.