Lokpal decoded

As the government and Team Anna debate over the lokpal bill, HT brings you how the anti-corruption body will work once it comes into action.

As the government and Team Anna debate over the Lokpal Bill, HT brings you how the anti-corruption body will work once it comes into action.

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How the lokpal will be set-up
- Lokpal chairperson and eight members will be appointed by a selection panel comprising the Prime Minister, Lok Sabha Speaker, leader of the opposition, Chief Justice of India or a judge nominated by him and an eminent jurist to be nominated by the President
- The selection panel will get the names of nominees for Lokpal from a search committee
- The term of the Lokpal chairperson and members will be five years

How lokpal will function
- After receiving a complaint against any public servant, the Lokpal will decide whether it merits a preliminary inquiry
- Lokpal's inquiry wing will submit a report within 60 days on its preliminary inquiry
- A three-member Lokpal bench will then decide whether to ask any probe agency (CBI) to register a case and proceed against the public servant
- The probe agency will have to complete its investigation within six months
- The Lokpal bench will then consider the probe report and ask its prosecution wing to file a chargesheet in a special court, depending on the probe findings
- One opportunity will be given to a public servant to present his/her views against whom the probe is being conducted
- Lokpal will not require any sanction from a competent authority of a public servant either at the time of initiating a preliminary inquiry or filing a chargesheet in court
- Special courts will have to decide the case within a year.
- Appeals against orders of the Lokpal cane be filed in the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court.