Lokpal Panel makes Group C employee out of its jurisdiction

After agreeing to inclusion of Group C government employees within the ambit of Lokpal, the standing committee on law and justice examining the bill recommended its exclusion from the proposed ombudsman's jurisdiction.

The lokpal will have no control over Group C staff, who account for 60% of central government bureaucrats. Singhvi said, "It has been decided to bring Group C employees under the Central Vigilance Commission."

Members, therefore, were surprised when they were told about another standing committee meeting on Thursday evening. Group C category, accounting for 57 lakh, is the largest component of central government employees and have a direct interaction with people in general. It is corruption at the lower bureaucracy level which affects the common man the most.

Team Anna has criticised the Congress after a last minute U-turn by the party demanding removal of Group C bureaucrats from the ambit of Lokpal.
Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said that if group C and D bureaucrats are not included under the Lokpal it will create two kinds of problems.

The opposition members have tabled their dissent on as many as 18 recommendations.

Left members too expressed reservations on these points and were planning to submit their dissenting notes on Monday. SP, BJD and AIADMK also expressed dissent on a few recommendations.