Narendra Modi government to modify Lokpal rules

Taking a first step towards appointment of Lokpal, Government has decided to modify rules to give more powers to the search committee mandated to recommend names for appointment of chairperson and members of the anti-corruption body. 

The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) is making changes in the rules on the mandate of the search committee which will be notified soon, official sources said. As per existing rules, an eight-member search committee is tasked to draw up a panel of persons for consideration by the selection committee led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for appointment of chairperson and members of the Lokpal.

These persons have to be chosen from among the panel provided by the DoPT, the rules say. However, the government will now empower the search committee to include people from outside the list provided by DoPT for consideration by the selection committee, the sources said. There may be some other changes in the constitution of the search committee, they said.

Besides, the DoPT has written to Law Ministry to vet rules formed on filing of property returns by government employees under the Lokpal regime. As per the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, every public servant shall make a declaration of his assets and liabilities.

A form for filing of such returns by a government officer has been designed and rules in this regard have been sent to the Law Ministry for its comments, the sources said. The government has made it clear that Lokpal Act is important to curb corruption.