Bhushan seeks comprehensive reforms to fight corruption

Kochi: Demanding that selection of judges be made in a "rational and transparent" manner, key Team Anna member and noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Sunday sought comprehensive reforms in judicial, civil and police administration.

"No disciplinary proceedings can be launched against apex court and High court judges. No FIR can be registered against them," he said at a function here.

Judiciary was "not accountable" to a majority of people, and selection of judges should be made in a rational and transparent manner, he said.

Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan said there was also need for electoral reforms along with other reforms.

"The judges are now appointed arbitrarily, no test is conducted for them," he said, adding, however, the lower judiciary was selected on the basis of examination.

He claimed that the SEZ Act was passed within 15 minutes while the Lokpal bill, where 80 per cent of people in every survey have said they want the bill, government has brought a bill totally different from the Jan Lokpal.

Some police reforms had been ordered by the Supreme Court six years ago, but till today nothing has happened, he claimed.

Bhushan said there was need for electoral reforms as well. Right to Reject and Right to Recall elected representatives were needed to reduce money and muscle power in elections.

Anti-corruption movement activists would stage an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar from July 25 against UPA government on issue of corruption and its "failure" to enact a strong Lokpal as well as not setting up a Special Investigation Team to probe corruption charges against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his 14 Cabinet colleagues, he said.

On differences of opinion and "infighting" in Team Anna, he told reporters later that there were differences of opinion on certain issues. "But I do not think there is any infighting. There can be difference of opinion. But that has been resolved," he said.

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