The Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared amendments in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 by heavily diluting its Section 44, which deals with disclosure of assets by Central government employees (public se
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday cleared amendments in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 by heavily diluting its Section 44, which deals with disclosure of assets by Central government employees (public servant) and NGOs receiving Central funds, by exempting them from filing returns by the due date of July 31.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was introduced and passed within an hour during Zero Hour. It seeks to amend Section 44 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 under which it is mandatory for every public servant and NGOs to file annual returns of assets and liabilities owned by them or their spouse by July 31 every year.
The government later rejected criticism that the amendment brought by it in the Lok Sabha to extend the deadline of July 31 for declaration of assets by NGOs receiving government funds and Central government employees was aimed at “diluting” the transparency law.
Briefing reporters, parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar also said the amendment bill was brought after consulting all political parties.
By amending the section, public servants and NGOs receiving Central funds will be exempted from filing annual returns of their assets and liabilities by the said date.
The amendment comes amidst criticism that the government was diluting the transparency law by classifying NGO officials as public servants.
Minister for personnel and public grievances Jitendra Singh said that the bill needed to be cleared urgently because the legislation requires every public servant to file and declare annual returns pertaining to his assets and liabilities before July 31. It was cleared through voice vote within an hour of its introduction.
The amendments, however, were cleared without circulating copies of the bill. Mr Singh moved the amendments even though they were not listed in the day’s business. He told the members that a standing committee will be looking into the amendments in any case.
“There is no dilution, there is no intention to dilute the act (Lokpal Act). It is crystal clear. The matter has been brought according to sense of the house,” Mr Kumar said.
While pushing for the amendment bill, Mr Jitendra Singh said that the government has received representations from MPs and other stakeholders. On July 25, a delegation of MPs had also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding a deletion of the provision, he said.
“Till the present impasse is overcome, the deadline with regard to government servants (for declaring assets) can be deferred,” Mr Singh said as he moved the amendment.
He said the Standing Committee would submit its recommendations before the next session of Parliament and till then the deadline for declaration of assets of public servants and NGOs can be deferred.
As per the rules notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, every public servant shall file declaration, information and annual returns pertaining to his/her assets and liabilities, as well as for their spouse and dependent children as on March 31 every year or on or before July 31 of that year.
In April, the government had extended the date of filing returns by public servants from April 15 to July 31. This is the fifth extension to the deadline since the Act came into force in January 2014.
Rules say that NGOs receiving more than '1 crore in government grants and donations above Rs 10 lakh from abroad fall under the ambit of Lokpal.
