LOKPAL Bill 2011

The Lokpal Bill 2011 has been passed by both the houses of parliament on 17/18 December 2013 merely 45 years after the first bill was introduced in 1968. All major political parties and new team of Anna are beating drums to announce their victory for Corruption Free India. This bill is being said to be the turning point for bringing transparency in the governance of the country. It appears that now the day is not very far when India will be  ranked along with  some Scandinavian countries like Denmark, Finland, Sweden  and other high ranking countries  like New Zealand , Singapore, Canada etc in Transparency Index.

I am excited to see India as a great respected nation during my life time. I hope my dream comes true and my children and future generations will be able to breathe in the fresh, corruption free air and no longer have the dream to settle in other countries.

I was so excited that I started day dreaming for a corruption free India! However, after the initial excitement passed away, I started wondering why the lawmakers took nearly half a century to pass this bill? Were they not concerned and upset when India was ranked among one of the most corrupt nation in the world?  Today it is being called a “landmark” bill. If so, why did it not get the attention that it deserved during the last 5 decades? Are our Lawmakers really interested in making India a corruption free country or is it another election gimmick? Have they really taken care of all the factors which breed corruption so that this Bill really works in the right direction?

As I started analyzing the bill, all my enthusiasm and euphoria evaporated. I started wondering what we have got after half a century — a farcical Bill which is quite likely to give employment to some people who are highly connected to the politicians, so that they can be manipulated to rule in their favor, as the politicians are a class known for breeding corruption in the country. How can one reasonably expect the Lokpal, primarily selected and appointed by the political class, to stand up to and give verdicts against the very people who are responsible for his/her elevation to this position? Not only this, the Bill also ensures that the premier national investigating agency continues to remain under the control of the same political class.

 So now we have a LOKPAL BILL to celebrate—to fool the public at large that our Government and politicians are bent upon curbing corruption!! The real truth is that the same political class responsible for unprecedented corruption will continue to be in the driving seat to ensure that everything continues to work as per their sweet will with no change for the better.

If our Government and politicians are really interested in eradicating corruption, why did they not consider the following inclusions in the Bill?

 (1)The appointment of Lokpal  should be made transparent  and governed by a panel  of distinguished  apolitical personalities from different walks of life, and excluding the agencies/class perceived to be corrupt or having vested interests like politicians, bureaucrats, police, investigating agencies like CBI etc against whom the Bill may be most likely invoked.

(2) Free Investigating agency-CBI from the clutches of the ruling party as has already been asked by Supreme Court.

The Lokpal Bill in the present form is an instrument only to fool the people of India. Can we not learn something from RTI act, which is hardly effective for similar reasons?

It is the high time that we start curbing the absolute power and misuse of office by our political class. Have we forgotten: Absolute power corrupts absolutely? Indian politicians are the best (or the worst?) example.