Time Limit extended for amending the Lokpal Act in respect of declaring assets

Time Limit extended for amending the Lokpal Act in respect of declaring assets

[TO BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE OF INDIA, EXTRAORDINARY, PART II, SECTION 3, SUB-SECTION (ii) OF DATED THE 14TH JULY, 2014]

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND TRAINING

ORDER

New Delhi, the 14th July, 2014.

S.O.________(E).- Whereas the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), made the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014 with effect from the 15th February, 2014 for the purpose of carrying out modification and amendments in all existing rules regulating the filing of property returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants so as to bring them in conformity with the provisions of the said Act, within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days from the date on which the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 came into force, i.e., on the 16th day of January, 2014;

And whereas the Central Government has initiated the process of modification/amendment of all existing rules dealing with the subject matter of filing of annual returns and making of declaration of assets by public servants in consultation with various authorities, such as, the Comptroller and Auditor General in India, the Election Commission of India, the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat, the Ministry of Law and Justice (Department of Legal Affairs and Legislative Department), the Department of Financial Services, the Department of Public Enterprises and the State Governments;

And whereas the comments/suggestions received from various above said authorities are under consideration of the Central Government and the completion of the procedure of finalizing the rules under the said Act is likely to take some more times;

And whereas the process of harmonization of the existing rules with the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 and the rules made thereunder is likely to take time beyond the period notified under the said Order, it will be necessary to extend the said period of one hundred and eighty days to a period of two hundred and seventy days, and the Central Government has accordingly decided to extend the period to complete this process and to notify the amendment rules after following the procedural requirements;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 62 of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 (1 of 2014), the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Removal of Difficulties) Order, 2014, namely:-

In the said Order, in paragraph 2, in sub-paragraph (1), for the words “within a period not exceeding one hundred and eighty days”, the words “within a period not exceeding two hundred and seventy days” shall be substituted.

[ No.407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B)]

Sd/-
[P.K. DAS]
Joint Secretary to the Government of India

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