After an agonising four-month wait, there is finally some hope that Karnataka will get a new Lokayukta.
The hint came from governor H.R. Bhardwaj, who had earlier rejected the state government’s nominee — former Kerala high court chief justice S.R. Bannurmath. The governor told reporters on Sunday that chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda has assured him that an alternative name would be suggested after consulting senior leaders of the ruling BJP.
“The moment I get a good name, I will approve it. I have discussed the issue with the chief minister and he has agreed with my view. He has promised to take up the matter with his leaders and get back to me. I think the issue will be resolved in 8-10 days,’’ he said.
The ayukta’s post has been lying vacant ever since Justice Shivraj Patil resigned in the wake of illegal land allotment charges. The government suggested Justice Bannurmath for the post, reportedly under pressure from former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa but Mr Bhardwaj rejected the proposal.
Ruling out Justice Bannurmath for the post once again, Mr Bhardwaj said: “It is not the controversy over site allotment that made me oppose his appointment. Adverse remarks were made on him in the Supreme Court by Justice Thomas. Besides, a lot of things happened in the state when Justice Bannurmath’s name was propose.”
Answering a question on the illegal mining report submitted by former Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hedge, Mr Bhardwaj said the Lokayukta has a good reputation but some people in the government were not willing to implement the report. When the issue came before me, I approved the report. After that, several good police officers were transferred from the Lokayukta. I am not blaming the present police set-up. If the government is serious about the Lokayukta, they should allow it to function properly. Otherwise, they should not have it at all,’’ he said.