July 28, 2011 4:49 PM

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Lokpal Bill to be introduced in monsoon session

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the enactment of a new legislation, in the form of Lokpal Bill-2011 to inquire into the allegations of corruption. Briefing the media, after a meeting of the cabinet, the Information and Broadcasting Minister, Mrs. Ambika Soni said the bill will be introduced in Monsoon session of Parliament beginning on Monday. The Prime Minister and the higher judiciary will not come under the purview of the Lokpal Bill but the former Prime Ministers have been brought under its ambit. She said the Lokpal will constitute of a Chairperson and eight members, half of them will be judicial members. The Bill provides for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal to inquire into the allegations of corruption. The Lokpal will also have powers to attach the property of corrupt public servants acquired through corrupt means. In reply to a question, Law minister Salman Khursheed said, Lokpal will have separate wings on inquiry and investigation but no power to prosecute. Mr Khursheed said Prosecution has to be done by judiciary. He said that the draft legislation, which has included some of the provisions of the Jan Lokpal Bill proposed by Team Anna Hazare, gives permission to Lokpal to probe any Union Minister or officials of Group A and above without any sanction.Mrs. Soni said that Cabinet also approved the constitution and operation of the National Social Security Fund for unorganised sector workers with an initial allocation of 1,000 crore rupees. An announcement for setting up of this fund was made by the finance minister in his 2010-11 Budget speech. She said, the constitution of the fund will support social security schemes for various segments of unorganised workers like weavers, toddy tappers, rickshaw pullers and beedi workers.An official release says that the Union Cabinet also approved inclusion of more ministries in the Governing Council and the Executive Committee of Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA) to ensure better coordination in the implementation of the scheme. Ministries of Tribal Affairs, Rural Development, Minority Affairs, Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and North-Eastern region are being included in SSA's Governing Council. In another decision, the Cabinet gave its nod for further modification of the revised relief package of assistance for animal husbandry sector in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

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