Proposed Lokpal to cover arms deals, ISRO, PM, says Hegde

Proposed Lokpal to cover arms deals, ISRO, PM, says Hegde

Bangalore, May 9  Arms deals, sensitive organizations like the Indian space agency besides the prime minister will be under the jurisdiction of the proposed Lokpal or national ombudsman, N. Santosh Hegde, a member of the 10-member drafting panel said Monday.

The panel proposed 'to bring arms deals, organisations like ISRO, besides the prime minister under the Lokpal purview', Hegde, Karnataka ombudsman and a civil society member of the drafting panel, said at a meeting here on the proposed Lokpal.

He said arms deals and organizations such as Indian Space Research Organisation were 'important from internal security angle' and hence 'they will be brought under the Lokpal purview'.

ISRO was recently caught in a controversy over its agreement with a private agency to lease scarce air waves (S-band spectrum). The deal has since been cancelled.

Hegde, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, said the Lokpal institution would have one Chief Lokpal under whom there would be 10 Lokpals.

The panel, which has held three meeting so far, has five civil society members and five central ministers.

The panel will again meet on May 23 and May 30, Hegde said.

He said a couple of more meetings would be needed to draft a strict anti-graft bill.