After civil society activists slammed the government's Lokpal Bill, the Centre on Friday said that people who are not satisfied with the Bill can approach the Standing Committee of Parliament and persuade it to make changes.
Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, who was part of the joint committee to draft the bill, said the government has already reconciled taking into account a number of provisions suggested by the civil society.
"People who want amendments to the Bill are free to go to the Standing Committee. The Standing Committee will ask for public comments. They can try and persuade the Standing Committee," he said.
"The Standing Committee represents Parliament in every measure. We will then take into account whatever the suggestions are and give a recommendation to the government, which in turn will either accept or not accept or partly accept or partly reject or accept wholly and introduce it back for passing in Parliament," he said.
The Union Cabinet on Thursday cleared the Lokpal Bill, keeping the office of the prime minister outside its purview, notwithstanding incumbent Manmohan Singh's insistence on subjecting himself to its scrutiny.
The Bill, to be introduced in Parliament on August 3, also keeps out the judiciary and the conduct of MPs in Parliament from its purview.
To a question on reconciling the demands of the civil society, Sibal said, "We have already reconciled. It is our Bill. After reconciling, we have reached this position. We have taken into account (their demands) and this is the position we feel is right."
He said the government has taken a lot from the civil society draft like suggestions for a separate prosecution wing, a separate investigating agency and no sanction required to prosecute a minister.
All officers from Group A and above will come under its ambit, he said, adding that the budget will be funded like the budget of the Supreme Court.
"No sanction is required for the prosecution of a minister or a government official unlike now," he said.
He said discussions with the civil society were over.
"We will not inform the civil society. It will come up in Parliament. We will hopefully introduce it as soon as possible and get it passed in the winter session."
He said the matters related to disciplinary proceedings of government servants have been kept out of the purview of the Lokpal Bill.
"The Lokpal can recommend but he can't take disciplinary action," he said.
