Lokpal bill ready for cabinet decision, says Sibal

The Lokpal bill is ready and will be placed before the cabinet for approval at its next meeting. The cabinet will also decide on whether or not to bring the office of the prime minister under the Lokpal's purview.

Stating this, minister for telecommunications Kapil Sibal said the government is committed to early introduction of the bill so that it can be passed in the monsoon session of Parliament itself.

"The Lokpal Bill is now ready and it will be moved to the cabinet. It will be placed before the cabinet in the next meeting," the minister said, adding, "We shall introduce this bill as soon as possible in the monsoon session of Parliament."

Sibal, however, refused to confirm whether the draft bill provides for bringing the PMO within the ambit of the Lokpal, which has been the bone of contention between the two sides of the Lokpal Bill drafting committee.

He said some suggestions made by the civil society members in the Jan Lokpal Bill were incorporated in the Lokpal draft while some were rejected.

The five civil society members of the Lokpal bill drafting panel have constantly been insisting that a Lokpal that excludes key members of the government would be toothless legislation.