A parliamentary committee has called for restructuring of the Lokpal, consisting the of anti-corruption wings of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
A parliamentary committee has called for restructuring of the Lokpal, consisting the of anti-corruption wings of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). The panel reasoned that the existing arrangements create a duplicity of functions with overlapping domains.
The panel also suggested the leader of the single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, in the absence of a recognised Leader of the Opposition, be made a member of the selection panel to choose the Lokpal chairperson and members.
If this is accepted by the government, it will pave the way for Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge to be part of the Lokpal search panel headed by the Prime Minister.
The parliamentary standing committee on personnel, public grievances, law and justice, headed by Congress MP E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, told reporters public disclosure of assets and liabilities of public servants, including employees and politicians, may not be needed.
He added that institutions of the CVC and CBI, as far as anti-corruption functions were concerned, should be fully integrated with the Lokpal.
The panel said in its report that the anti-corruption watchdog institution could be architecturally created vertically, with the Lokpal at the top and the CVC and CBI (anti-corruption wing) working directly under its command and control.
