John Gomes;**** Nobody can act like Superman/Dictator,Everything will be transparent and accountability is built in! The Lokpal has many members, with well thought out checks and balances, and arms in all States. There are stringent selection processes, procedures for removing members or the Lokpal, all actions/decisions subject to judicial review. It will be a body like the Election Commission.Do not believe the propaganda by the government.They keep repeating it on TV and in print! Justice Santosh Hegde is also with Supreme Court service AND is a practising Lok Ayukyta,TRY AS HE MIGHT IS unable to move and reign in corruption in the Karnataka government.I spoke to him on these very points when he was in Goa! Further,this is not a magic wand but required since the many laws in existance are definately more than enough but are just not being or allowed to be implemented.Permission has to be taken from those****
alleged culprits to even start enquiry.,CBI is their handmaiden and CVC hamstrung etc.The Civil Society members are experienced and eminent people,the best we have for this purpose of drafting a strong bill.Yes,even if passed,it will have to be implemented for which electoral, police,administrative and judicial reforms must follow! Let us take positive steps possible and not pontificate without moving forward .For forty years they have blocked this Bill**** .ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM DO IT AGAIN?**** * * Response: **** Dear John, Please do not get me wrong. I am all for the Lok Pal Bill. However, kindly pardon me if I appear sceptical about how it is going to unfold. The draft bill of Anna Hazare & Co is at one end of the spectrum and the draft bill of the government is at the other end. The issue is of the twain meeting. Anna’s bill is highly idealistic and not driven by ground realities. It also suffers from certain presumptions and creates an exclusive club of who will stand in judgement. In this regard, I would recommend you to read Shekhar Gupta’s article in the Indian Express (Our Singapore fantasy http://www.indianexpress.com/news/our-singapore-fantasy/808505)**** Unless, there is change in the basic structure of funding political parties, reforms in the police and judicial processes and systems, revampment of legislations to bring them in line with today’s needs and realities like that done in the financial sector ( witness the transparency and smooth trading with the advent of online trading systems, the disappearance of investor’s complaints by dematerializing stocks and securities, etc) , it would be expecting too much from the Lok Pal. He would need an entirely parallel apparatus of policemen, investigating officers, judicial officers, witness protection, judicial powers to call for and preserve documents, if he is to do justice to his post. (Look how Narendra Modi's government has destroyed all records and evidences relating to the 2002 Gujarat killings or how sensitive Adarsh files have gone missing) How on earth will anyone with the best of intentions pin the guilty under conditions like this? Regards, Marshall
