Lokpal Bill: Civil society wants ‘equal weightage'

The Anna Hazare team has sought ‘equal weightage' for both versions in the draft Lokpal Bill. In a letter to Finance Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, senior lawyer and co-chairman of the panel, Mr Shanti Bhushan, has asked him to treat both the civil society and Government versions as the outcome of the nine joint drafting committee meetings that have been held. He said at the joint meeting, five members endorsed one draft and the other five endorsed the other draft. “Therefore, both the drafts enjoy equal weightage as far as the outcome of the joint committee is concerned. I would still urge you to treat both the drafts as the outcome of the joint committee,” Mr Bhushan wrote. The letter comes in backdrop of Law Minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, releasing a comparative statement on the drafts, which Mr Bhushan alleged, did not “accurately” present the civil society views. Mr Bhushan said if the Government wanted to combine the two in the form of a chart, they could do so but with the concurrence of all members of joint panel. In the last meeting, it was decided that both the drafts would be taken to the Cabinet and parties.