National Campaign for Peoples' Right to Information (NCPRI) today demanded the simultaneous passage of accountability legislations like the Grievance Redress Bill and the Whistle Blower Protection Bill which are pending before Parliament along with the Lokpal Bill.
NCPRI also welcomed the listing of the Lokpal bill for discussion and passage in the Rajya Sabha and demanded the bill be strengthened by making a few amendments and passed in the ongoing session of Parliament.
Speaking to mediapersons, Anjali Bhardwaj, Nikhil Dey and Shekhar Singh of NCPRI said that in order to have an effective accountability framework for citizens, it is critical that pending accountability legislations are passed.
Like the 'Right of Citizens for Time Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill, 20110', Whistle blowers' Protection Bill and Judicial Accountability Bill be passed along with the Lokpal Bill, they said.
They said the Sense of the House Resolution passed by Parliament in August 2011, mentioned 3 major issues- a Lokpal which would cover the whole bureaucracy, the establishment of Lokayuktas in states and Citizen Charter.
Out of these promises, two are being dealt with through the Lokpal bill but on the third the 'Citizen Charter', there has been progress since the cabinet approved amendments to the bill in early 2013.
NCPRI stated that in discussions with representatives of political parties, all the parties have said that they have no objections to the passage of the Grievance Redress bill and the Whistle blowers' Protection Bill.
