NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister, P.V. Narasimha Rao, is seriously considering a proposal to set up the institution of the Lokpal to probe corruption charges against the ministers and bureaucrats and is keen to place himself under the jurisdiction of this new ‘ombudsman.’
In a move to improve the battered image of his Government following a series of scandals, Rao has undertaken an exercise to seek the views of the political parties to arrive at a consensus on this issue.
Concerned at the charges of corruption leveled at several ministries, the Prime Minister has apparently begun preparing for the challenge of the Lok Sabha elections with an initiative to subject the wings of the Government to the scrutiny of the Lokpal.
Rao had started that “he would not resale from the position that the office of the Prime Minister should be brought within the purview of the Lokpal.”
There was a broad agreement across the political spectrum over the need for this institution, the consensus on the details was eluding, ‘While there ‘appears to be unanimity on the issue that the Lokpal should be established, this has not translated itself into a consensus on details relating to the constitution of the body, its powers, and the complaints to be dealt with,’ Margaret Alva, minister for personal observed.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 7, 1995
