Knock Parliamentary panel if unhappy with Lokpal Bill: Govt to Team Anna

“People who want amendments to the Bill are free to go to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee will ask for public comments. They can try and persuade the Standing Committee.

“The Standing Committee represents Parliament in every measure. We will then take into account the suggestions and give a recommendation to the government which in turn will either accept or not accept or partly accept or partly reject or accept wholly and introduce it back for passing in Parliament,” he told PTI.

The Union Cabinet yesterday cleared the Lokpal Bill keeping the office of the Prime Minister outside its purview notwithstanding incumbent Manmohan Singh’s insistence on subjecting himself to its scrutiny.

The Bill,to be introduced in Parliament on August 3,also keeps out the judiciary and the conduct of MPs in Parliament from its purview.

To a question on reconciling the demands of the civil society,Sibal said,“We have already reconciled. It is our Bill. After reconciling,we have reached this position. This is the position we feel is right.”

He said the government has adopted a lot from the civil society draft like separate prosecution wing,separate investigating agency and no sanction required to prosecute minister.

All officers from Group A and above will come under its ambit,he said adding the budget will be funded like the budget of the Supreme Court.

“No sanction required for prosecution of minister or government official unlikely now,” he said.

He said the discussions with the civil society are over and “we will not inform the civil society. It will come up in Parliament. We will hopefully introduce it as soon as possible and get it passed in the Winter session.”

He said matters relating to disciplinary proceedings of government servants have been kept out. “Lokpal can recommend but LP can not take disciplinary action,” he said.