The much-awaited Lokpal Bill on Wednesday got
the assent from President Pranab Mukherjee, providing for creation of an
anti-graft watchdog which will bring under its purview even the Prime Minister
with certain safeguards.
The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on
December 17 and by the Lok Sabha the next day.
The Lok Sabha secretariat on Tuesday sent to
the Law Ministry a copy of the Bill which has been signed by Speaker Meira
Kumar. The Bill was then forwarded to the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the
President's assent, official sources said.
The President has signed the Lokpal Bill, the
sources said.
The Bill takes the shape of the Act after the
signing by the President and following certain procedures.
After the assent by the President, Secretary
Legislative Department in the Law Ministry will sign it and send it for
publication in the official gazettee.
The Bill aims to set up institution of Lokpal
at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states by law enacted by respective
legislatures within one year of coming into force of the Act.
The Bill was first passed by the Lok Sabha at
the end of the winter session of 2011, but not by the Rajya Sabha, where it was
debated but the house was adjourned before voting on it.
Later, a select committee of the Rajya Sabha
had suggested changes in the Bill, most of which which were incorporated and
approved by the Union Cabinet. Following the amendments, the Rajya Sabha had
passed the bill.
The Lokpal had become a bone of contention
among ruling Congress, opposition BJP and civil societies with each one of them
wanting to make changes in it to make it more effective.
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