Janlokpal Bill 2015

Special courts to hear corruption cases are on the Delhi government’s agenda, reported *Business Standard.

The government will consult Delhi high court’s chief justice to constitute courts to hear cases under the Janlokpal Bill 2015 and Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 to dispose of these cases at the earliest.

According to the provisions of the Janlokpal Bill, which was tabled before the Delhi assembly on 30 November 2015, the special courts will ensure completion of trial in the corruption cases within six months from date of filing and in rare cases, the time will be extended to one year more.

“To achieve the objective of a speedy trial, the Janlokpal will make an annual assessment of the number of special courts required for this purpose and will then make a recommendation to the government for creating such courts,” the bill reportedly states.

However public functionaries, including the Janlokpal, are exempted under the bill from giving evidence relating to ‘secret information’ or produce the evidence so reported or collected, it was reported.

Senior advocate Shanti Bhushan and advocate Prashant Bhushan have dubbed the proposed draft Jan Lokpal Bill 2015 as the “Jokepal Bill”, and have alleged that it is a ‘maliciously’ weakened draft of the original Lokpal Bill of 2011 by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). If at all the centre passes the bill it will be an instrument in the hands of the Delhi government to save its own legislative assembly members, allege the Bhushans.

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