Lok Sabha passes Lokpal, Lokayukta Bill; also gives nod to Benami Transactions Bill
27 July, New Delhi
The Lok Sabha today passed the Lokpal and Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill 2016 without discussion.
The bill seeks to amend the section 44 of the existing Act, which provided for furnishing of details of assets and liabilities of public servants within 30 days of joining the government service.
As per the amendment, the period of 30 days has been removed and now the public servants will be bound to make declaration of their assets and liabilities in the form and manner as prescribed by government.
Speaking on the bill, Minister of State in Prime Minister’s Office Dr. Jitendra Singh said, through this amendment government is not diluting the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act and it is committed to make it more stringent.
Earlier, during Zero Hour, the Minister had introduced the bill.
Moreover the Lok Sabha today also passed the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Bill, 2015. The Bill seeks to amend the definition of benami transactions, establishes adjudicating authorities and also an Appellate Tribunal to deal with cases of benami transactions.
It also specifies prosecution and penalty for entering into benami transactions. Replying to a debate on the bill, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it will amend the Benami Transactions Prohibition Act- 1988 and it will have 71 sections against 9 sections in the old Act.
He said, the new legislation will apply to all the properties which were acquired in the form of benami transactions since 1988.
Responding to the the members queries, Jaitley said, if the old Act was not amended and was replaced with a fresh legislation then the new legislation could have come into affect from this year and the guilty could have gone scot free. He said, there is provision of jail term and penalty for those who enter into benami transactions.
The purpose of the bill is to discourage the activity of acquiring the properties in the name of fictitious and other people.
The Minister said the legislation has the provision of confiscating benami assets. Mr. Jaitley added the bill is pre-dominantly an anti- black money measure. Later the Bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha.