In a sudden U-turn, the parliamentary standing committee looking into the Lokpal Bill on Thursday gave its nod to the exclusion of Group C officials from the proposed ombudsman law and to not tampering with the present selection
process of the CBI chief despite objections from at least 10 members.
It, however, failed to take a decision over the inclusion of the Prime Minister under the ambit of the Lokpal, deciding instead to leave the issue for the floor of the two Houses of Parliament. In the meeting, several members, mostly from the Congress, said Group C officials should not be brought under the Lokpal as it would put “too much pressure” on a new institution.