In a give-some, take-some move on the Lokpal Bill, the special Union Cabinet meeting on Tuesday finally cleared the draft that includes the Prime Minister, with riders, but excludes the CBI.
Sources said the re-drafted Lokpal Bill is likely to be tabled on Thursday.
In Ralegan Sidhi, anti-graft activist, Mr Anna Hazare, rejected the draft and declared a three-day fast from December 27 to 29, followed by countrywide ‘jail bharo' from December 30. Terming the Government's intention to bring a strong Lokpal Bill as “suspect”, Mr Hazare said, “I will go to five States (where Assembly polls are due) and campaign against the (Congress-led) Government.”
Another bone of contention, the lower bureaucracy, has been kept under the Chief Vigilance Commission and not under the Lokpal.
According to the draft, the Lokpal will be an eight-member body with a five-year term, and its chairman or a member can be impeached only after at least 100 MPs make a representation.
The Lokpal and its members will be selected by a committee comprising the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge nominated by the CJI and a jurist of eminence nominated by the President.
In another departure from the original Bill, the Government has proposed 50 per cent reservation for SC/ST, OBCs, Minorities and Women in the Lokpal bench, which will primarily consist of persons with judicial background.