In a significant move the draft Cabinet note prepared by the Cabinet Secretariat on the Lokpal issue advocates a 50 per cent reservation for SCs, STs and OBCs in the proposed nine-member constitutional body. This is largely the outcome of Wednesday’s all-party meeting where representatives of the Samajwadi Party,
Bahujan Samaj Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal pitched strongly for such reservations in the Lokpal body.
While the government is gearing up to introduce the Lokpal Bill in Parliament next week, possibly Tuesday, there are rising calls within the UPA for a conscience vote on the issue on the floor. The government is noncommittal on this aspect, saying no one has so far approached it with such a suggestion.
The proposed reservation within the Lokpal will provide the government much-needed support from the SP, RJD and BSP in Parliament to ensure smooth passage of the bill. Government sources said it will also send out the message that all sections of society were on board.
The government’s sense of urgency on the Lokpal Bill was evident from the way the Cabinet Secret-ariat was directed on the night of December 14 itself to start working on the draft note, which will now be placed before the Cabinet at its meeting on Monday morning. The law ministry’s views have also been sought on the accountability of the Lokpal: whether it should be made accountable to Parliament or the Supreme Court.