The rules further declare that if such a complaint is rejected by the full bench at the admission stage, records of the hearing shall not be made public.
Government-issued Lokpal rules
After the country’s first Lokpal, placed to probe into allegations of corruption against public officials, state that in case a complaint is filed against the current or former Prime Minister, a full bench will decide, at the admission stage, whether an inquiry should be launched or not.
In fact, it is also mentioned in the rules that if such cases are dismissed, its record will neither be published nor made available to anyone, the IndianExpress source said.
The rules further affirm that a complaint filed against the Prime Minister shall be determined, at the admission stage, by the full bench headed by the Chairperson, where at least two-thirds approve the inquiry.
According to the order of the Ministry of Personnel, all the complainants must, among other things, submit an affirmation on non-judicial stamp paper that any false and offensive or teasing complaint is punishable with imprisonment up to one year and a fine of up to one lakh rupees.
Format and steps
A complaint can be made through post or in person or electronically in English in a simple manner, which has been decided by the Lokpal. However, as per the order of the Ministry of Personnel, if a complaint is made electronically, it will have to submit a copy within 15 days. It has been said in the order that if the complaint is complete in every aspect, then the Lokpal will not keep the said complaint electronically pending, said the sources.
With the format published, the Lokpal can send complaints to the Inquiry Wing of the Lokpal which may order a preliminary inquiry. And if there is a prima facie case, the Lokpal can connect the complaint about an investigation by a probe agency like the CBI.
According to rules notified by the government, the Lokpal, after processing the complaint, has to “protect” the identity of the complaint till the conclusion of an investigation, provided the complainant himself has revealed his identity to any authority while making the complaint to the Lokpal.
Previously on March 23, 2019, former Supreme Court judge Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose was made the first Lokpal or anti-corruption ombudsman of India.
