House likely to be extended for passing Lokpal bill

The Delhi government is likely to extend the ongoing Winter Session to allow passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill which was cleared by the cabinet earlier this week, setting the stage for another confrontation with the Centre.
Other important Bills including the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC Amendment Bill), Amendment in Delhi Right to Citizens Time Bound Service Delivery Act and proposal to hike the salaries and allowances of MLAs, which have received the Cabinet nod, would be tabled next week.
"The government will table the Bill next to next week and for that the Session needs to be extended as it is scheduled to end on November 28," a senior official said.

It has been learnt that the government would table the Bill first and then send it to the Lt Governor notwithstanding opposition charges that such a move would amount to Transaction
of Business Rules.
"Section 26 of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act makes it perfectly possible," an official said.

The government had cleared the Jan Lokpal Bill on November 18 when the Session began, paving the way for creating the post of an anti-graft ombudsman, which it claimed was similar to the one proposed during the Anna Hazare movement.
However, sources said, the said Bill does away with the Vigilance and time-bound delivery of services component of the previous version. It also envisages a three member body of Lokpal as opposed to the previous provision of having seven members.

The draft bill, among other provisions, also brings the office of the Chief Minister under its purview and is in the lines of the Uttarakhand Lokpal Bill which stipulates time- bound probe.
The long-pending report of the Fourth Finance Commission on municipal corporations, will also be tabled next week among other bills. The House witnessed unruly scenes over the issue when BJP MLAs demanded the immediate tabling of the report.
"The government has decided to table the report and the Business Advisory Committee will decide on the date," Assembly Speaker Ramnivas Goel said.
Goel also questioned Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta, asking as to why BJP did not force the then government to table the bill in 2012 when it had around 25 MLAs.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today also tabled the Delhi School Education Amendment Bill and the Delhi Schools Verification of Accounts and Refund of Excess Fee Bill.