New Delhi: The Lokpal and Lokayukta amendment bill was passed by Lok Sabha on Wednesday without any discussion. The bill seeks to amend the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 which provides Lokpal (at Centre) and Lokayukta (at States) statutory backing to inquire into allegations of corruption against certain public functionaries and for related matters.
The amendment to section 44 of the Act was moved by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State handling the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), under whose jurisdiction the Bill falls. Senior Ministers of the government made it clear that the amendment was for providing immediate relief to public servants facing the July 31 deadline.
According to the rules notified under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, every public servant shall file declaration, information and annual returns pertaining to his assets and liabilities as well as of his spouse and dependent children as on March 31 on or before July 31 of that year.