4-member sub-panel on corruption set up

The nine-member group of ministers (GoM) set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to recommend an effective anti-graft mechanism on Wednesday decided to discuss the Lokpal bill with civil society activists led by Anna Hazare.

The nine-member group of ministers (GoM) set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to recommend an effective anti-graft mechanism on Wednesday decided to discuss the Lokpal bill with civil society activists led by Anna Hazare.

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In its third meeting, the GoM headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, formed a sub-panel of four ministers which is likely to initiate discussions with the representatives of India Against Corruption from March 28.

Defence minister AK Antony, HRD minister Kapil Sibal, law minister M Veerappa Moily and minister of state for personnel V Narayanswami will be the members of this committee, sources said.

The PM had met Hazare and his colleagues earlier this month and had agreed to bring the legislation during the monsoon session of the parliament.

Though the activists have rejected the latest draft of the Lokpal bill, terming it a cosmetic legislation, the government is hopeful of reaching a consensus.

The GoM, which had decided in its February 14 meeting to prevent misuse of discretionary powers of union ministers, continued its deliberations on the matter on Wednesday.

It will lay down guidelines on how the ministers will use these powers, which is their discretion for the distribution of sops to individuals and organisations.