The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, pending before the Rajya Sabha for long, was on Monday referred to the select committee after some members raised objections over certain clauses,
The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2013, pending before the Rajya Sabha for long, was on Monday referred to the select committee after some members raised objections over certain clauses, arguing that these overlap with the provisions of the Lokpal Act and more clarity was needed on these.
The bill provides for more stringent punishment for the offences of bribery, both for the bribe giver and the bribe taker by amending the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. It seeks to enhance penalty for graft to a maximum of seven years from five years now, among other new provisions to check the menace.
On December 3 when the bill was moved in the Upper House, opposition parties had advocated caution on the measure saying the new law, instead of checking the menace, will increase corruption and make elected representatives more vulnerable.
As the House took up the bill for discussion on Monday, SP’s Naresh Agarwal said powers vested by amendments, which the government wants to bring in the bill, have already been given to Lokpal by the Supreme Court.
