Lokpal Bill - Will it succeed?

Anna Hazare

Firstly, I would like to express my full support to the formulation of Jan Lokpal bill, with norms as suggested by Mr.Anna hazare, a former army man. While it is becoming increasingly popular to threaten or black mail the government by non-violence and violence methods, we cannot quote this sort of action badly!! He grabbed the attention of public and media so quickly because he is in no way connected to any political party or any organization that involves in political activities. This sort of protests have been made before on the issue of corruption and none of them were taken so seriously as this. This might be because, all those protests are concentrated on a single segment of corruption and seeks to get justice in that issue. A single issue that's brought into front light is always vulnerable to criticism as a lot of loop holes can be found to get out of it. But, Hazare's protest is very different. He is not asking for justice in a segment, he is asking to address a devil that is so deep rooted that threatens the very foundations of democracy. He is also not asking the government to do something new, but asking to do the old thing in a different way. He want the Lokpal bill passed in the parliament much the same way he wanted it to be, involving people from civil society to have a higher say in the internal affairs of the country which boasts of largest democratic government.
Critics say, Mr.Hazare's agenda in this issue is much deeper than it seems for it has other intentions besides a strong institution monitoring corruption. He wants to make people have a more significant role in the law-making process and other political activities that is connected with their lives directly or indirectly. That is exactly what Lincoln said about a democratic government. For the people, of the people, by the people.
According to NDA government that act is nothing but a lack of faith in the Indian Constitution and the proceedings of the Parliament. What do you think? Do you think we should have a set of civil society representatives in the parliament monitoring the proceedings or not? It seems sane to me.

Lokpal bill is in many ways similar to Lokayuktha institution operating in Karnataka under Justice Hegde, a former supreme court judge. There are some people who say Lokpal bill will be not much of use as the similar institution in operation in karnataka is not effective in dealing with corruption. While accepting that it is right, it should not be forgotten that the people under whom Lokayuktha is functioning is itself corrupt, or at least facing allegations. Justice Hegde, in an interview with NDTV said, "While I am accepting the fact that Lokayuktha is not effective in abolition of corruption, it certainly has curbed its growth".
We tend to behave more responsibly if we are aware that someone is watching over us. And that is what Lokpal will do. There are a few allegations that, establishing such an institute with supreme powers, accountable to no one, would have devastating consequences. It is not true that Lokpal is not accountable to anyone. It is monitored for sincerity and corruption inside, by a panel of supreme court judges, who if find anything wrong, have the power to take legal actions against the accused.

While the government is not publicly against Lokpal bill, it suggested a few reforms to it, like

1. It should be headed by 3 retired judges of supreme court
2. Should be run under the control of parliament
3. Should have the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha speakers in the panel 
4. Not permitted to include CVC and CBI to the institution
5. No power to start an investigation
6. No power to take criminal charges
7. Should take legal action for frivolous complaints
8. Should not be open to public directly

I want to ask this one thing!! If all the above are applied to Lokpal, there will not be much of a difference in the existing system.

There is one more important thing to be addressed to make Lokpal bill and institution, effective. We also need an effective bill dealing with corporate liberty and the way it interacts with our government. We should not be ruled by a bunch of guys under corporate demons, who only work for mutual benifit. A lot of scams have surfaced recently just showing this, that corporate culture is rotting and needs serious reform. Until then we are only looking at one side of corruption, receiving side. A bird's eye view..

• Adarsh Housing society scam
• Uttar Pradesh Land allotment scam
• 2G scam
• ISRO rare spectrum lease scam
• IPL scam
• CWG scam

To deal with this, we need much more than Lokpal while I acknowledge the fact that Lokpal with current recommendations is a perfect way to start that.
" A JOURNEY OF THOUSAND MILES START WITH A SINGLE STEP "