लोकपाल संस्थेच्या मर्यादा काय आहेत ?
(a) 2013 च्या कायद्याने व्हिसल ब्लोअर्संना ठोस अशी प्रतिकारशक्ती प्रदान केलेली नाही.
(b) लोकपालला कोणतेही घटनात्मक पाठबळ दिले जात नाही.
(c) लोकपाल राजकीय प्रभावापासून मुक्त नाही कारण नियुक्ती समितीमध्येच राजकीय पक्षांचे सदस्य असतात.
(d) प्राथमिक चौकशी दरम्यान नोंदी (रेकॉर्ड) नष्ट होवू नयेत यासाठी निर्देश देण्याचा अधिकार लोकपालास नाही.
वरीलपैकी कोणती विधाने योग्य आहेत ?

The correct answer is Option A ((a), (b) and (c)).

Key Points:
• The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 was enacted to establish an anti-corruption ombudsman at the Union level.
• Limitations of the Lokpal:
• (a) The 2013 Act lacks robust and comprehensive whistleblower protection mechanisms within its text; a separate Whistle Blowers Protection Act of 2014 was passed but faced long delays in notification.
• (b) The Lokpal is purely a statutory body and lacks constitutional status, making it vulnerable to parliamentary amendments.
• (c) The Selection Committee consists of political figures: the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Leader of Opposition, and an eminent jurist nominated on government advice, allowing scope for political influence.
• Statement (d) is incorrect because under Section 20(8) of the Act, the Lokpal possesses explicit powers to give directions to prevent the destruction or tampering of records during a preliminary inquiry.
• Key Takeaway: Lokpal is a statutory body lacking constitutional status, and its search/selection committee includes active political leaders.