Jan Lokpal Bill will dilute the authority of other well-functioning institutions…

I am delighted to see the response of people to support the Jan Lokpal Bill drafted by Shanti Bhushan, former IPS Kiran Bedi, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, Prashant Bhushan, former chief election commissioner J. M. Lyngdoh in consultation with the leaders of the India against Corruption movement and the civil society. It further promotes citizen’s involvement in policy making process.

Jan Lokpal bill is centripetal to anti-corruption. People frustrated and disgusted with series of scams and day to day policy and system failure have reacted to the bill without doing a systemic check and scope of its practical implementation. Citizens see it as panacea to combat corruption. Before we conclude anything let us look at the features of Lokpal Bill and Jan Lokpal Bill:

Draft Lokpal Bill 2010 (UPA proposed)*	Jan Lokpal Bill (By Public)*
Lokpal will have no power to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public. It can only probe complaints forwarded by LS Speaker or RS Chairman.	Lokpal will have powers to initiate suo moto action or receive complaints of corruption from the general public.
Lokpal will only be an Advisory Body. Its part is only limited to forwarding its report to the "Competent Authority"	Lokpal will be much more than an Advisory Body. It should be granted powers to initiate Prosecution against anyone found guilty.
Lokpal will not have any police powers. It cannot register FIRs or proceed with criminal investigations	Lokpal will have police powers. To say that it will be able to register FIRs.
CBI and Lokpal will have no connection with each other.	Lokpal and anti corruption wing of CBI will be one Independent body.
Punishment for corruption will be minimum 6 months and maximum up-to 7 years.	The punishment should be minimum 5 years and maximum up-to life imprisonment.

Though Jan Lokpal bill gives more power to the public and Lokpal & Lokayukta, It lacks scope of its implementation and smoothen transition of old policies to the new one. At what level of confidence we can say that the Lokayukta and Lokpal will not be corrupt. Taking power from PMOs, Supreme Court and divesting CBI doesn’t sound a full proof solution of corruption.

As per Jan Lokpal bill - Lokpals and Lokayuktas will be elected by people (By judges, citizens and constitutional authorities and not by politicians, through a completely transparent and participatory process.) Our LS & RS members are also elected through a democratic process which has scope to allow almost every adult citizen of India. What I meant to tell is – if a member or the system elected by the citizens becomes corrupt most often, what guarantee do we have for a completely novice LOKPALS & LOKAYUKTAS? India where one-third of the population is still illiterate, what scope Janlokpal bill has to include them in the process? Corruption is an instinct which is one of the very strong negative attributes of humans. Practicing corruption is highly correlated with society we stay in. Practice of corruption and failure of civil system depends on socio-economic and socio-political equation of the society. Consistent involvement of public in the policy making process, awareness of the social cause, scaling up education system and economic reform will the change the socio-economic and socio-political equation of Indian states and so we will see less corruption in India.

Though I am not against any anti-corruption bills, however I do not accept the both the current form of Lokpal Bills. The first one doesn’t has power but mere a political agenda, wherein the second one is more feel good for public but lacks practicality and will dilute the power and scope of work of a robust and existing public institutions.  Vandemataram...

* Reference: Wikipedia