Employees’ body to start signature campaign for Lokpal bill

Srinagar: For the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, ranked second after Bihar in corruption, an employees’ body Tuesday announced to launch a signature campaign in support of the Lokpal bill in state legislative assembly.  The Jan Lokpal Bill (Citizen’s ombudsman Bill) is a draft anti-corruption bill drawn up by civil society activists seeking the appointment of a Jan Lokpal, an independent body that would investigate corruption cases, complete the investigation within a year and envisages trial in the case getting over in the next one year.“We will start signature campaign in support of the bill across Jammu and Kashmir from tomorrow and subsequently present it to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah with an urge to introduce the bill in the next session of the state legislative assembly,” president JK Employees Conference, Ishtiyaq Ahmad Beigh told. The body is supported in the endeavour by another Pahari employees Forum headed by Khalid Mehmood, Beigh added.     Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already announced to discuss among the cabinet colleagues before making policy announcement with regard to the post of the Lokpal in the state.“Clearly, there is a need to take urgent steps to tackle corruption. What those steps can be and what shape they can have is to be seen… We are taking the issue to the Cabinet in this regard,” Omar had said.   The bill provides for LOKAYUKTA, a completely independent body, in each state. As per the bill, cases against corrupt people will not linger on for years anymore as investigations in any case will have to be completed in one year. Trial should be completed in next one year so that the corrupt politician, officer or judge is sent to jail within two years.Besides, the bill provides that the loss that a corrupt person caused to the government will be recovered at the time of conviction.