By IANS,
New Delhi : First introduced in 1968, the Lokpal bill is yet to get parliament’s nod, and faces an uncertain future with the Rajya Sabha Thursday night adjourning sine die without voting on the legislation.
The Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill was first introduced in the fourth Lok Sabha May 9, 1968, and passed the following year.
However, while it was pending in the Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha was dissolved, and so the bill died.
A Lokpal bill was again introduced in the fifth Lok Sabha Aug 11, 1971, but was not passed by either house and died upon the dissolution of the Fifth Lok Sabha.
According to parliament’s records, Lokpal bills were brought in 1977, 1985, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, and 2001 but were never passed.
In December 2011, the bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in a special extension of parliament’s winter session but failed to make headway in the Rajya Sabha despite a spirited debate.
The United Progressive Alliance government has now said the bill is still alive and it will be passed in the budget session of parliament next year.