India's union cabinet has delayed an important meeting to approve the controversial lokpal bill as is expected to meet later in the day. The cabinet members had to delay the meeting because the bill is still being worked out, according to reports. If the bill gets approval from the cabinet, it is expected to be passed in the Parliament on 21 December.

The winter session of the parliament is scheduled to conclude on 22 December. However, the government may extend it for a day Dec 23 or may even call for few more days of working after the Christmas holidays to pass the Lokpal bill.

PK Bansal, the parliamentary affairs minister has already conveyed the government's intention to extend the session to main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party. The parties ask asking their members ensure their presence on December 22 in the parliament.

The draft bill already has 60 amendments and more are likely from the opposition members. This could take additional time in the parliament to pass the bill. The cabinet meeting was not held on Monday as home minister P Chidambaram had found issues with the draft bill.

A team including home minister P Chidambaram, law minister Salman Khurshid and minister of state in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) V Narayanasamy ahev already studied the bill to find loopholes in the bill. The final bill is expected to be cleared by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Meanwhile, civil society activist, Anna Hazare described the government draft as "worthless and good for nothing". He warned of a new movement, 'Jail Bharo Andolan' from 1 January if the bill is diluted by the MPs.