By IANS,
New Delhi: The main points of contention between the government and the civil society on the proposed Lokpal bill:
Prime Minister: The civil society wants the prime minister to be covered by the Lokpal. The government opposes this.
Higher Judiciary: The civil society wants the Lokpal to probe the higher judiciary, including judges of the Supreme Court. The government wants to keep them out.
MPs: The government says acts of MPs inside parliament should be kept out of the purview of the Lokpal. The civil society is against this.
Lower bureaucracy: The government says officers of joint secretary and above can be covered under the Lokpal. The civil society wants the entire bureaucracy to come within the Lokpal’s ambit.
CBI and CVC: The government is against the proposal to merge the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) with the Lokpal.
Punishment: The civil society has proposed minimum one year rigorous imprisonment and maximum of life imprisonment for the corrupt. The government feels the maximum punishment should not exceed 10 years.
Lokayukta: The civil society wants the appointment of Lokayuktas, the ombudsmen in states, to be overseen by the Lokpal. The government is not in favour.