Cabinet approves lokpal bill sketch abandoned by Anna

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The Union cabinet on Thursday approved the lokpal bill draft and kept the Prime Minister and the judiciary out of its purview. Anti-corruption activist had pitched for a strong version of the law to set up a lokpal, saying the government draft to be discussed was

"ineffective".
The government had constituted a drafting committee having ministers and members of NGO India Against dishonesty to finalise lokpal bill but they failed to reach a consensus.
After that, the minister finalize a draft lokpal bill for the Cabinet's consideration.
"In its present form, the government's edition of the lokpal bill is too weak and ineffective," social activist Anna Hazare, who was also member of the drafting committee, said on Wednesday.
"It has a very narrow jurisdiction."
Team Anna had demanded inclusion of the Prime Minister, higher judiciary and civil servants in ambit of the planned lokpal, which the ministers did not concur.

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