Lokpal Bill - Suggestions to the Standing Committee on Committee on Personnel

Today, I wrote a letter to the standing committee reviewing the lok pal bill for the sake of doing something for lokpal. Shows below is the letter. 


Respected members of the standing committee,


I put forward for your kind attention following suggestions as ways to improve certain imperfections in the Lokpal bill, so that aspirations of billion+ Indians can be better reflected through the bill under your consideration.

Remove provisions that appear to intimidate complainants. Specifically, remove the 2 year minimum imprisonment for frivolous/ vexatious complaints. Leave punishment to the judge on the merit of the specific case against the complainant and after hearing the opinion of the Lokpal if the complaint was frivolous.

Simplify Lokpal investigation process (section 23) that appears to unfairly favor the accused and hinder Lokpal's investigation process. There is no need to mandate by law to allow the accused to be heard three times before even the charge sheet is filed: 1) once during preliminary investigation stage, 2) during secondary/final investigation stage and 3) before the charge sheet is filed. This process will severely hinder the effectiveness and speed of the Lokpal investigations. A better suggestion would be to hear the accused only once before the charge sheet is filed and provide evidence to the accused to defend himself only after the charge sheet is filed in the court.

Expand the jurisdiction of the Lokpal beyond the Group A officers. All central government civil servants or employees of programs substantially funded by the central government should be covered under Lokpal. Provided that below group A civil servants do not need to disclose their assets, unless ordered with respect to a specific investigation.

I am shortening my suggestions in abovementioned three points in the interest of prioritizing your attention on the most important areas with respect to improving the effectiveness of the Lokpal institution. I request you to please address these suggestions and incorporate it in the lokpal bill.

Thank you for your kind consideration,
Jai hind,
yours truly..