Standing Committee On Lokpal

• Lokpal Bill likely to be taken up in Lok Sabha on Dec 19: Sources

  The government is prepping to begin a debate in Parliament on the Lokpal Bill on the 19th. Sources say the government is also leaning towards accepting some of the demands made by activist Anna Hazare, like bringing the Prime Minister and junior bureaucrats under the ambit of the new Lokpal or ombudsman agency, which will be empowered to investigat...

• Lokpal flip-flop: Lower bureaucracy out?

  At the 11th hour of protracted confabulations, a parliamentary Standing Committee drafting the Lokpal Bill has seen new flip-flops. On the inclusion of the lower bureaucracy - a major sticking point with members of the civil society, who are threatening to launch another mass agitation if all their demands on the issue are not met.

• Parliamentary panel divided over inclusion of PM in Lokpal

  One of the most contentious issues in the Lokpal Bill is whether the Prime Minister's office should be within the anti-corruption ombudsman's ambit. The last meeting of the parliamentary standing committee drafting the Bill ended today, with no consensus on this key point.

• Lokpal draft report a disappointment: Kiran Bedi

  Team Anna member Kiran Bedi tonight expressed disappointment at the recommendations in the draft report of the Standing Committee on the Lokpal Bill, saying going back on the commitment given by Parliament will call for a mass movement again.

• 'Consensus' in parliamentary panel for making Lokpal a constitutional body

  The parliamentary panel looking into the Lokpal Bill today arrived at a "broad consensus" on making the body a constitutional authority. Towards that end, an agreement was also reached for the need for a constitutional amendment to effect the process.