The Hindu : National : "People's Lok Pal" set up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 15, 2006

National

National

"People's Lok Pal" set up

Special Correspondent

Launched by a voluntary organisation

NEW DELHI: Disappointed over the dilatory manner in which the Government is proceeding with the Lok Pal legislation to check corruption in high places, Lok Sevak Sangh, a voluntary organisation of Gandhian persuasion, on Tuesday announced the launch of the "People's Lok Pal."

Any citizen or non-governmental organisation (NGO) aggrieved by corruption, criminality, disproportionate assets or abuse of authority by any MP or Union Minister may send his complaint with supporting evidence on a duly sworn affidavit to the "People's Lok Pal" which would approach the appropriate forum or court.

Addressing a press conference, S.D. Sharma, freedom fighter and working chairman of the Sangh, said the "People's Lok Pal" would consist of three members of the organisation — Justice D.S. Tewatia, former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court; Justice T.U. Mehta, former Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and Justice Kamleshwar Nath, former judge of the Allahabad High Court.

"No anonymous or frivolous complaints will be entertained. We shall do everything humanly possible to ensure privacy of the complainant and defend the whistle blower at all cost," Mr. Sharma said.

MPLAD scheme

He said a public interest litigation petition (PIL) filed by the Sangh seeking the scrapping of the MPLAD scheme was pending before the Supreme Court along with two other PILs against three Union Ministers — Lalu Prasad, Taslimuddin and Shibu Soren. He said criminal cases against the three Ministers were pending in courts and added that the organisation could take up suo motu cases of MPs with corrupt and criminal antecedents.

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