House panel to go for Rahul Gandhi's Lokpal formula

The parliamentary panel, examining the Lokpal Bill, may propose that the watchdog be made a constitutional body and the Lokayuktas in the states be set up through a single stroke. HT reports.

The parliamentary panel, examining the Lokpal Bill, may propose that the watchdog be made a constitutional body and the Lokayuktas in the states be set up through a single stroke.

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If Anna Hazare's team accepts the proposal - suggested by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi in Parliament - at the final meeting, which will probably be held in early November, it may clear the decks for the bills, including the one to amend the Constitution, during the winter session next month.

Although Team Anna termed Gandhi's proposal a delaying tactic, the parliamentary standing committee on law and justice, headed by Congress' Abhishek Singhvi, may recommend a constitutional amendment bill.

Following Gandhi's suggestion, the panel is looking at various models, including those on which the Election Commission and the National Human Rights Commission were based.

The panel has already received a draft bill prepared by former CJI JS Verma. According to Justice Verma's draft, article 253 of the Constitution empowers Parliament to enact laws for "the whole or any part of the territory of India" to implement international treaties or conventions - the UN convention against corruption in this case.

This could provide an answer to one of Hazare's key demands that the lokpal and Lokayuktas in states should be set up through a single bill to be passed by Parliament.