Petition against panel on Lokpal Bill to be heard tomorrow

The Allahabad high court will take up for hearing tomorrow a writ petition challenging the resolution issued by the Centre for constitution of a committee on the Lokpal Bill.

A division bench comprising Justice Pradeep Kant and Justice Vedpal today fixed May 20 as the next date after the Lucknow Bench of the high court heard additional solicitor general Ashok Nigam.

The court had earlier issued notice to attorney general of India on April 20 to file a reply on the issue within three weeks.

The petitioner, a local lawyer Ashok Pandey submitted that under the existing Constitutional provisions, the Centre cannot issue resolution or notification to constitute a committee on drafting the Lokpal Bill.

A committee headed by senior minister Pranab Mukherjee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill was constituted on April 9 after the anti-corruption campaign launched by Gandhian Anna Hazare.