Lokpal unworkable, would create blackmailers: Katju

Lakhs of complaints cannot be handled by one person

PTI | March 28, 2012



Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju has trashed the idea of setting up Lokpal saying it was "completely unworkable" and the proposed anti-graft body would not be able to cope with the lakhs of complaints it may receive.

"Lakhs of complaints will come which cannot be handled by one person, therefore 55,000 Lokpals would be required.

Lokpal would be required in every district," Katju told reporters, adding he had been silent on the issue till now as people would say that he was "supporting corruption".

"What is the guarantee that they would not turn corrupt. I feel that they would definitely become blackmailers," Katju said.

"You want to create a parallel bureaucracy then how will the government fuction..this is completely unworkable," he said.

Katju said that as there are over 50 lakh government employees and lakhs of complaints may be filed which cannot be handled by one person.

Justice Katju said this would involve infrastructure and expenditure including salary, accommodation, staff and office place.

"Till now I was silent as I thought people would say that I am supporting corruption, but common sense has to be used," he said.

He, however, praised Anna Hazare.

"To me Anna Hazare seems to be an honest man, but he does not have a scientific approach," Katju said.

"Are problems solved by slogan shouting. From my point of view as far as Jan Lokpal in concerned no government will be able to function under it," he said.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter