Govt has deleted term 'minorities' from Lokpal Bill: Sources

The government is learnt to have deleted the term 'minorities' from the Lokpal Bill with regard to the provision of having 50% quota in the Lokpal bench and the Search Committee.

Sources said the term was deleted after it was pointed out that there is no provision of reservation for minorities in the Constitution and such a provision in the Bill would create complications.

Legal experts informed the government that reservation for minorities in Lokpal bench and Search Committee would require a constitutional amendment which the government felt would be difficult at this juncture.

According to the Cabinet note circulated on the Bill on Tuesday, the government has proposed 50% reservation for SC/ST, OBCs, Minorities and Women in the Lokpal bench and in the Search Committee. Half of the bench would be members from judicial background. This is a departure from the original bill which was introduced in the Lok Sabha in August.

Now a correction has been made in the legislation by dropping the word 'minorities'.