Lokpal: The great leap backward

Last August, the Lokpal was within sight. Anna Hazare, with media help, had galvanised visible and vocal support. The UPA government had accepted several demands of his and put out a Bill which provided for a Lokpal with full powers of investigation and prosecution, and focussed on the top rung of Ministers, legislators and bureaucrats. Special Courts were to be set up to conclude cases within a short time frame, punishments were stiff, and assets gained through corruption were to be recovered. While differences remained on whether the Lokpal would cover lower level officers and enforce Citizen Charters, it seemed that the expression of the sense of Parliament would tide over these.

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