Lokpal floats tender for Rs 5 crore BMW fleet for 7 members, draws flak

NEW DELHI: The seven-member Lokpal has drawn attention by floating a tender to procure seven BMW 3 series cars for its members at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The development drew comments on social media but judicial circles pointed out that the proposed purchase of cars for the ombudsman — headed by retired Justice A M Khanwilkar of the Supreme Court — is in accord with the perks that judges of SC and high courts enjoy.

While the chairman of the Lokpal is selected from a pool of retired chief justices of India or SC judges, the judicial members are from among retired SC judges or chief justices of HCs. The types of cars for SC and HC judges depends on the decision of a committee of judges in courts.

In case of SC judges, they have been allotted BMW 3 series, while the CJI has been sanctioned a BMW 5 series car, sources said. Different HCs have different kinds of cars allotted to their judges.

For instance, Delhi HC judges have been allotted Toyota Camry, while their counterparts in Andhra Pradesh HC have been sanctioned Kia Carnival. For judges of several other HCs, Toyota Innova Hycross is the preferred vehicle.

However, Congress spokesperson Saral Patel said the Lokpal, which is now looking to buy seven luxury cars worth Rs 5 crore, has not acted on a single case since Narendra Modi became PM.

“This is the institution that Modi delivered after massive and continuous protests against UPA govt during India Against Corruption movement,” he jibed, recapping Congress’s allegation that Lokpal agitation by Anna Hazare was an RSS ploy to defame the the UPA. Lokpal has powers to inquire and probe allegations of corruption against public functionaries, including the PM and his cabinet ministers, an MP & central govt officials.