RESPONDENT: UNION OF INDIA & ORS. DATE OF JUDGMENT: 03/08/1999 S.Saghir Ahmad, K.Venkataswan, S.R.Babu JUDGMENT: S.SAGHIR AHMAD, J. This is a Review Petition in Writ Petition No. 26 of 1995 which was filed by Mr. H.D. Shourie for the following reliefs: "(i) Pass an appropriate writ, order or orders directing the Respondents 1 to 3 to specifically declare as to when the Union of India will now bring before the Parliament an appropriately drafted Bill for enactment of legislation for the establishment of the institution of Lokpal, or a suitable alternative system of the nature of Ombudsman which is operating in a number of other countries, for checking and controlling corruption in public offices, inter alia, at the political and bureaucratic levels, and whether in the enactment of such legislation they will take into consideration the suggestions that have emanated from the Colloquium recently organised under the auspices of Indian Institute of Public Administration with the participation of foreign and Indian experts for examining various aspects of the matter relating to establishment of Ombudsman institution in this country; (ii) Pass an appropriate writ, order or orders directing that the institutions and organisations of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Chief Vigilance Commissioner, and the Central Bureau of Investigation should indicate to the Hon'ble Court the specific steps which they will take for effectively overcoming any inadequacies and weaknesses in the operations of these important institutions which presently hamper effective and efficacious check on prevalence of corrupt practices in the country and to curb corruption at all political and bureaucratic levels; (iii) Pass an appropriate writ, order or orders appointing a Commission or Commissioner to urgently undertake comprehensive study of the present inadequacies in the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947 for making specific recommendations to strengthen this enactment for achieving the objective of curbing and checking corruption at the political and bureaucratic levels in the country. (iv) Pass an appropriate writ, order or orders directing the State Governments Respondents to indicate to the Hon'ble Court as to when they propose implementing the specific suggestions which have been made for strengthening and improvement of the functioning of the system of Lokayukta, including inter alia, the following : a) To ensure expeditious establishment of the institution of Lokayukta and UpaLokayukta in every State; b) To achieve uniformity in the provisions of various Lokayukta and UpaLokayukta Acts; and c) To confer Constitutional status on the institution of Lokayukta." The petition was taken up by this Court on 10.2.95 when the following Order was passed: "After hearing Mr. Shourie, appearing inperson, we give him liberty to amend the petition by making broad base on the subject of curbing corruption in the country. To come up on 24.2.95." On 10.5.95, the following Order was passed: "We request the Supreme Court Legal Aid Society to depute a counsel to assist us in this case alongwith Mr. Shourie, Adv. The Legal Aid Society shall also serve the unserved respondents by depositing the necessary process fee and other expenses. To be listed on 11th August, 1995. All affidavits and counter affidavits may be tendered in the Registry." On 11.8.95, the Court passed the following Order: "Mr. Shourie, the petitioner appearing inperson, states that it is of utmost importance to have a Lok Pal to curb corruption in the country. Mr. Gupta, learned Solicitor General states that efforts have been made more than once to have consensus regarding the terms and conditions of the proposed bill. According to him efforts are still being made. It is a matter which concerns the parliament and the Court cannot do anything substantial in this matter. Short of that, learned Solicitor General states that he would apply his mi