Essay on lokpal

The Lokpal is a standing machinery to investigate cases of misconduct against public men. He is not a functionary to deal with redress of citizens grievances in respect of injustice or undue hardship on account of maladministration. His is an institution to probe into cases of corruption in public life.

Thereafter in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998 and 2001 efforts were made to enact legislation to create the institution of Lokpal, but these efforts remained unsuccessful. Over the last few years the issue of enacting a law to create Lokpal has seen active citizen engagement.

The ARC recommended a two-tiered machinery comprising the Lokpal and the Lokagukta, the former to deal with complaints against Ministers and states. The Lokayukta, one for the centre and one for each state, should attend to complaints against the rest of the bureaucracy.

The proposed Bill envisages the setting up of the Lokpal to examine the charges of corruption leveled against the Prime Minister, the union council of ministers and members of parliament. The Vajpayee Govt’s Bill on Lokpal was first considered by the standing committee on Home Affairs. A broad-based body must recommend the name for the office.