Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The July 31 deadline for disclosure of assets and liabilities by central government employees and senior management personnel of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) receiving government aid and foreign donations has been extended indefinitely.
The Lok Sabha cleared an amendment to the Lokpal Act without any discussion Wednesday. The Bill will be referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee to examine Section 44 that requires public servants working with trusts, societies and NGOs, and receiving Rs 10 lakh or more from a foreign source and in excess of Rs 1 crore from the government per year, to declare assets and liabilities. Even their spouses and dependent children are required to do so.
The Opposition, however, cautioned against any move to dilute the Bill. The Standing Committee is expected to give its report in the next session of Parliament.
The Congress said it had certain objections and sources in the party said they cannot accept the clause which mandates family members of government servants and those running NGOs to declare their assets.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said every viewpoint has to be considered and discussed. “It cannot be rammed down the throat of those who disagree… If the government does it, as it appears to have been doing on certain issues and certain clauses, and this government has acquired an identity of… being insensitive to concerns of NGOs… then this government will face a lot of difficulty,” he said.
The government brought the amendment to Lok Sabha though it did not figure in the business list for Wednesday. It was passed without debate two days after a group of MPs, cutting across party lines, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express concern over provisions in the Act.
The Indian Express reported Tuesday that the Prime Minister had assured that the last date for disclosure of assets and liabilities of trustees would be extended beyond July 31 and that the government would consult all parties to amend the Act.
Moving the amendment for consideration, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the government had received a number of representation from NGOs, civil society and other stakeholders expressing concern over provisions in the Lokpal Act which could adversely affect the NGO sector. The amendment, he said, pertains to Section 44 of the Lokpal Act which deals with declaration of assets and the provision of making assets public.
Source From : indianexpress.com
