NEW DELHI: After
Uttarakhand, two BJP-led states, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh, are
closely examining the Jan Lokpal bill. Both states have a Lokayukta in
place, but have shown interest in amending the existing legislation to
bring it closer to the bill drafted by Team Anna. This could prove to be
a shot in the arm for Team Anna, which is dissatisfied with the
piecemeal manner in which the issue has been tackled by UPA-II.
Chhattisgarh has put in place a committee under the chief secretary to examine the Jan Lokpal bill and the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act. Sources said Chhattisgarh was looking at restructuring its existing Lokayukta Act to bring in an independent investigation wing under the ambit of the law, besides other changes.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh told ToI that Team Anna members had met him and he is considering restructuring the Lokayukta Act. "We have set up a four-member expert committee to look into it," he said, when asked about whether he would follow the Uttarakhand model in implementing the Jan Lokpal Bill.
The Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act includes in its ambit lower bureaucracy, judiciary and has provisions for addressing public grievances.
However, the Chhattisgarh government is likely to wait till the Centre passes the Lokpal bill and examine its provisions. The state assembly session is scheduled to start in December and unlike Uttarakhand there are no elections coming up in the state, and hence there is no immediate political compulsion to expedite the process. Sources said the state may wait a while before restructuring its legislation to fit the Jan Lokpal's provisions. ``We want it to be in tandem with the Centre's act,'' a source said.
Team Anna members had also met Himachal chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and government sources said the state was examining the provisions of the act closely. Himachal is also preparing for assembly polls next year.
The activists have been in talks with several states after the early success with Uttarakhand that has adopted the Jan Lokpal bill in toto. The team, however, ran in to rough weather with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as Team Anna members criticized the state Lokayukta draft as ``weak''. Kumar hit back, saying he did not need a certificate of approval from anyone except the public.
Chhattisgarh has put in place a committee under the chief secretary to examine the Jan Lokpal bill and the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act. Sources said Chhattisgarh was looking at restructuring its existing Lokayukta Act to bring in an independent investigation wing under the ambit of the law, besides other changes.
Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh told ToI that Team Anna members had met him and he is considering restructuring the Lokayukta Act. "We have set up a four-member expert committee to look into it," he said, when asked about whether he would follow the Uttarakhand model in implementing the Jan Lokpal Bill.
The Uttarakhand Lokayukta Act includes in its ambit lower bureaucracy, judiciary and has provisions for addressing public grievances.
However, the Chhattisgarh government is likely to wait till the Centre passes the Lokpal bill and examine its provisions. The state assembly session is scheduled to start in December and unlike Uttarakhand there are no elections coming up in the state, and hence there is no immediate political compulsion to expedite the process. Sources said the state may wait a while before restructuring its legislation to fit the Jan Lokpal's provisions. ``We want it to be in tandem with the Centre's act,'' a source said.
Team Anna members had also met Himachal chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and government sources said the state was examining the provisions of the act closely. Himachal is also preparing for assembly polls next year.
The activists have been in talks with several states after the early success with Uttarakhand that has adopted the Jan Lokpal bill in toto. The team, however, ran in to rough weather with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar as Team Anna members criticized the state Lokayukta draft as ``weak''. Kumar hit back, saying he did not need a certificate of approval from anyone except the public.
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