New Delhi: The Modi government appears to have decided to give a major political concession to the largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha. It is learnt that apart from providing some relaxation to government servants in declaring their assets and posting them on official websites, the government now intends to include an Opposition member on the panel that will select the Lokpal through proposed amendments to the act that provides for a Central ombudsman.
Sources in government said the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government would amend the Lokpal law to allow the leader of the largest Opposition party to be on the selection panel even if there is no Leader of the Opposition in the LS.
Sources also said the proposed amendment to the Lokpal Act would bring another significant change — the exemption of spouses and children of public servants from declaring their assets.
“Once amendments are done with, it would be mandatory only for an official to declare his wealth, not his family. It will also not be necessary for officers to upload their assets on a government website,” sources said.
The ruling party, however, had on several occasions said the Opposition’s seat on the panel would remain vacant as there was no recognised Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The Congress, with 44 Lok Sabha members, is the largest Opposition party, but could not make the cut for Leader of the Opposition status. Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan says a party must have at least 55 members in the House to claim the post.
In August, the Supreme Court, responding to a petition on the delay in appointing the nine members of the Lokpal panel, said it was concerned about the absence of a Leader of the Opposition, which “conveys a voice different from the government” and is, therefore, crucial.
