Hectic consultations on the draft Lokpal Bill between Government and civil society members ended on Tuesday without any consensus and both sides trashing each other's draft.
Both the versions will now go through the political parties and then placed before the Cabinet. After this, it will be tabled in Parliament during the monsoon session.
At the last meeting of the joint drafting panel held here on Tuesday, serious differences persisted mainly over six key issues, including bringing the Prime Minister and higher judiciary under the Lokpal's ambit, the selection and removal of the proposed Lokpal.
Criticising the draft presented by Team Anna, the Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, said at a press briefing that “the question that the country faces is whether we need a parallel executive body, a parallel police state outside the Government, disregarding our Constitution?”
Giving some details of the Government draft, the Law Minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, said the Lokpal would have quasi-judicial powers along with financial and administrative autonomy. It can take sou motu complaints, attach assets and will also have full police powers. Also, time-bound trials of anti-graft cases will be done, with powers to investigate and prosecute.
However, civil society was cut up with the Government's model. Social activist, Mr Arvind Kejriwal, said the Government draft was a “deep disappointment.” It was just a “symbolic attempt” by the Government to install an authority in the name of Lokpal rather than a putting in place a “comprehensive, independent, empowered” institution, he added.
Senior lawyer Mr Prashant Bhushan, said “some gains” had been made but overall the Government's draft made it clear that the ruling party would have control over the Lokpal as five-seven members of the selection committee would be from the party in power.