Lokpal – A ‘toothless’ tiger? The union government is reportedly
considering a legislation to create anti-corruption units both
at the centre and the states. Such institutions were first
conceptualized by the Administrative Reforms Commission (ARC)
headed by Morarji Desai in its report published in 1966. It
recommended the creation of two independent authorities – the
Lokpal at the centre and the Lokayuktas in the states. The first
Lokpal Bill was introduced in Parliament in 1968 but it lapsed
with the dissolution of Lok Sabha. Later Bills also met a
similar fate. Though the Lokpal could not be created as a
national institution, the interest generated led to the
enactment of various state legislations. Maharashtra became the
first state to create a Lokayukta in 1972. Presently more than
50% of the states have Lokayuktas, though their powers, and
consequently their functioning varies significantly across
states. Existing institutional framework The Central Vigilance
Commission (CVC) and the Central Bureau of I