(a) The distinctive features of the 2001 Lokpal Bill are as follows:

(i) The bill provides for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries including the Prime Minister, provided the offence committed is within ten years from the day the complaint is lodged.

(ii) The Lokpal, shall consist of a chairperson who is or has been a Chief Justice or a Judge of the Supreme Court and two members who are or have been the judges of the Supreme Court or the Chief Justices of the High Court.

(iii) The bill provides for a fixed tenure of three years for the Chairperson and the members.

ADVERTISEMENTS:

(iv) The chairperson and members shall be appointed by the President of India on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Vice-President of India and comprising the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Home Minister, the leader of the house other than the house in which the Prime Minister is a member and leaders of the opposition in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

(v) To ensure independence and impartiality, the bill provides that the chairperson or a member of the Lokpal shall not be removed from office, except by an order made by the President on the ground of proved misbehavior or incapacity. He can issue the removal order after an inquiry by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India and two other judges of the Supreme Court (next to the Chief Justice in seniority).