Ex-CJI Bhagwati backs Rahul

Former chief justice of India PN Bhagwati has backed the idea of making lokpal a constitutional body, a proposal made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his Parliament speech on Friday.

Former chief justice of India PN Bhagwati has backed the idea of making lokpal a constitutional body, a proposal made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his Parliament speech on Friday.

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He, however, said only a “specialised agency” should be entrusted with the task to ensure accountability in the judiciary, whose autonomy could be compromised if brought under the lokpal.

“There is no harm in making lokpal a constitutional body. It will give it a greater standing. Whether it is created by a statute or made a constitutional body, it must fight corruption effectively,” Bhagwati said.

In an open letter to Anna Hazare, Bhagwati said, “There should be a separate institution of lokpal. You could call it judicial.”

In the letter he stated: “(The) separate institution…should be headed by a former CJI and consisting of the sitting CJI and any three out of the following members namely, a senior sitting judge of SC, a senior chief justice of a HC, the attorney general and a leading member of the Bar. “