Lokpal Bill should include defence: Ayukta

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Karnataka Lokayukta and one of the civil society members in the Lokpal draft committee, Justice N Santosh Hedge, said on Monday that Defence deals and even institutions like ISRO would be brought under the ambit of the proposed Lokbal Bill.

He also said that Lokpal should also be vested with the powers of investigation.

“We definitely propose to cover organizations like ISRO and arms deals under the Lokpal bill as they are important from an internal security angle. Here it is not about how they performed or whether they underperformed. The angle of national security will also be there. But, if there is a corruption-related complaint of any manner then the Lokpal should be investigatig it,” Justice Hegde said.

He said that Lokpal should be vested with the powers of investigation, unlike the Lokayukta set-up where the investigation is handled exclusively by the police. Justice Hegde said Lokpal should have the powers of investigation as per section 36 of CrPC.

"I have been requesting for this power for Lokayukta, which never came. Now, the draft committee too is keen on giving supervisory powers for the investigation of cases to Lokpal. Section 36 of CrPC gives the power of supervision to the Lokpal. Otherwise, investigation is an exclusive domain of police,’’ Justice Hegde said.

In fact, as per the Lokayukta Act, the Lokayukta cannot supervise police investigation. The police wing in the Lokayukta investigates a case on its own and requests the state government for sanction of prosecution.

In fact, the Jan Lokpal Bill has included the supervisory powers under section 36 of CrPC to Lokpal. Justice Hegde said that he was confident that the representatives from the government will recognize the importance of these inclusions.

“The objective is that once a complaint is registered with the Lokpal, the investigation should be completed within 6 months and order be passed in 1 year. The draft committee meetings so far have been very fruitful and I hope we will be able to introduce a Lokpal bill with true powers,’’ he said.

The Jan Lokpal Bill states that the officers in the investigation wing of Lokpal shall be deemed to be police officers. For the purpose of section 36 of CrPC, the Chairperson and members of Lokpal, while investigating any offence under Prevention of Corruption Act, shall be competent to investigate any offence under any other law in the same case.

Earlier in the day, addressing FKCCI members, Justice Hegde said, from the Prime Minister of the country till the last cadre officer, all should come under the ambit of Lokpal bill.

He also said that talks were on to also include the Lok Sabha speaker, Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker and Vice President in the committee to appoint the Lokpal.

As per the Jan Lokpal Bill, PM, the leader of the opposition and senior judges of SC constitute the appointment committee.