Three anti-graft measures held up in Parliament

NEW DELHI: Three much-awaited legislations aimed at fighting corruption in public life and establishing a mechanism to probe complaints against judges failed to get Parliament's nod during the Winter session as Government was not able to muster support from its allies and Opposition.

The Lokpal Bill met with an anti-climax at midnight last night in the Rajya Sabha after passage from the Lower House. The two Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die yesterday.

The UPA government is in a minority in the 243-member Rajya Sabha. Its problems were aggravated by stiff resistance from its ally Trinamool Congress, which was dead against a provisions in the Lokpal bill relating to Lokayuktas in the states.

The bill seeks to create an independent ombudsman to check corruption. While the Lokpal will have no powers to investigate cases of graft on its own, it can ask agencies like the CBI to probe cases. It will have its own prosecution wing to try the accused in special courts.

While the Whistle-blowers' protection bill secured Lok Sabha's approval without a separate debate, it could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha as Opposition demanded that time be allocated separately to discuss this legislation..

It is aimed at helping establish a regular mechanism to encourage persons to disclose information on corruption or wilful misuse of power by public servants, including ministers.