Lokpal Bill: First Introduction in Lok Sabha

The Lokpal Bill is a crucial piece of legislation in India aimed at combating corruption. It seeks to establish a Lokpal at the Centre, which is an ombudsman-like institution, and Lokayuktas in the States, to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

Lokpal Bill's Historical Journey

The idea of an ombudsman in India gained traction with various administrative reforms commissions. The concept of an independent body to address public grievances and corruption charges has been discussed for many decades. The journey of the Lokpal Bill through the Indian Parliament has been a long and complex one, marked by several introductions, debates, and subsequent lapses.

• The very first time the Lokpal Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha was in the year 1968.
• It was introduced by the then Law Minister, Shri Ashok Kumar Sen, during the fourth Lok Sabha.
• Despite its introduction, the bill could not be passed and lapsed with the dissolution of the Lok Sabha at that time.

Over the years, the Lokpal Bill was introduced multiple times in Parliament (in 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2011, and finally passed in 2013), each time facing various challenges and failing to be enacted into law until the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 was finally passed.

Key Facts about the Lokpal Bill

Understanding the initial steps in its legislative history helps in appreciating the long struggle for its enactment.

• First Introduction Year: The Lokpal Bill made its debut in the Lok Sabha in 1968.
• Purpose: To create an anti-corruption ombudsman institution in India.
• Significance: It laid the groundwork for future attempts to establish a powerful anti-corruption body in the country.

Therefore, the year 1968 marks the initial step in the legislative history of the Lokpal Bill in the Lok Sabha.