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Shouldn't the PM come within the ambit of Lokpal?
| April 25 2011
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Ashish Sharma worked with Governance Now as Deputy Editor between September 2009 and August 2011. His areas of interest include politics, political economy, development, culture and conservation.
Now that the debate has finally begun on the actual contours of the long-pending Lokpal Bill, the first major disagreement has surfaced over the inclusion of the prime minister within the ambit of the proposed anti-corruption watchdog.
Those who advocate that the prime minister should be brought under the jurisdiction of Lokpal do so simply because they believe the anti-corruption watchdog will not prove adequately effective if it cannot hold the head of the executive to account. Indeed it can be argued that an upright leader is a prerequisite for an upright team. Unless the leader of the team has the moral authority to set an example for the others to follow and to act against those who refuse to fall in line it becomes difficult to rein in errant members. The best safeguard against corruption, therefore, is to ensure that the leader remains accountable.
However, in the first public consultation on the proposed legislation held in New Delhi on Sunday, a few eminent participants felt that the prime minister should remain accountable only to parliament. India Today has quoted Justice Venkatachaliah, who did not favour the inclusion of the PM given the unstable nature of the Indian polity, as having said, "It may have international ramifications. The prime minister should be accountable only politically."
Even as consensus emerged on keeping the higher judiciary out of the Lokpal's purview, though, difference of opinion persisted on the office of prime minister. The 10-member joint drafting committee which includes five members of the Anna Hazare-led civil society group is expected to take into account the views expressed at this and all such subsequent public consultations on the Lokpal Bill.
Since the issue is far from settled, the question remains whether the prime minister shouldn't come within the ambit of Lokpal.
It will not make any substancial difference for "we the people of India" whether the Prime Minister is or is not brought within the ambit of Lokpal. Rather the danger it that it will be another step towards AUTHORITARIANISM which all political formations in the country so cunningly wish to have for themselves.
I have a simple question: Our Constitution mandates that a person of Unsound Mind who has been declared so by a competant authority suffers disqualification for being a member of any House of Parliament or of a State Legislator. I wish to know who the Who or Which is the Competent Authority and what the Procedure is to move such authority.
During very recent past A Very Strong Suspicion has been expressed by a number of Punlic Dignitaries against each other of being of UNSOUND MIND that in the utmost national interest to get the matter settled by the authority before it is too late.
In my humble view a gathering of dignitaries of unsound mind should not be relied upon to come up with any pro -people legislation.
Thank you so much GovNowTeam !
The P.M. of the day, for all purposes, is nominated by the President of the Congress party and is not elected by the parliamentarians. In such case he will not go by the law and works only on the dictates of his party, who rules by proxy. So the P.M. should be under the purview of the lokpal
Not only PM but Higher Judiciary should come under the lokpal bill ambit. Afetr all they are human being . Instability in a sytem starts when a man commits a crime.
Lokpal == 5 Corrupt Cabinet Ministers + 5 Confused Desis
India has this unfortunate tendency to create "privileged" classes at the drop of a hat. The "VIP" became so common that they had to add a consonant: VVIPs can park where they wish, jump queues, ignore rules, etc. with impunity that seems to rise by the day.
Submitting the PM to the scrutiny of an independent body is essential: else there will be gradual "creep" with others worming their way into this "privileged" class. It is not so long ago that an MP made some appalling demands regarding airport security and MPs. It's hard to decide which was more galling: the demand or the brazenness.
Consider the statement by the LG of Puducherry that he _did_ recommend Hasan Ali's passport app, but that he is innocent because of blah-blah. it would be nice, for a change, to have the person pay the price for an act of - at the best - omission.
The current PM has recently plumbed new depths by claiming to be ignorant of the various shenanigans, and continues to mouth platitudes - see his comments today at the CBI opening-ceremony. Scrutiny would be a welcome, welcome, welcome change.
India has this unfortunate tendency to create "privileged" classes at the drop of a hat. The "VIP" became so common that they had to add a consonant: VVIPs can park where they wish, jump queues, ignore rules, etc. with impunity that seems to rise by the day.
Submitting the PM to the scrutiny of an independent body is essential: else there will be gradual "creep" with others worming their way into this "privileged" class. It is not so long ago that an MP made some appalling demands regarding airport security and MPs. It's hard to decide which was more galling: the demand or the brazenness.
Consider the statement by the LG of Puducherry that he _did_ recommend Hasan Ali's passport app, but that he is innocent because of blah-blah. it would be nice, for a change, to have the person pay the price for an act of - at the best - omission.
The current PM has recently plumbed new depths by claiming to be ignorant of the various shenanigans, and continues to mouth platitudes - see his comments today at the CBI opening-ceremony. Scrutiny would be a welcome, welcome, welcome change.
All born under the sun are humans and those who are all in higher position, including the Judiciary, are also one amongst them only, who are suspectable/susceptible under pressure or compelling situations. Especially, the political class is well known for its notoirety. Evfen when the Gods went for agniparikshas, as per our puranas, we the humans are not saints always. Further, it gives an opportunity, to prove ones worth and honesty, through this Lokpal. Hence, it is a must that everybody under this sun in India, are put into the ambit of Lokpal Bill. No exceptions should be there. Even after more than sixty years of Independence, today our Country is in such a shambles, tells much upon our Indianness and administration. It is a matter that concerns more about our Nation and purely internal one. None in this World has any right to comment on this. Jai Hindusthan. Hey Ram.
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