Opting out of the Karnataka Lokayukta post, former Kerala high court Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath on Tuesday launched a tirade against governor H.R. Bhardwaj for the “unverified and untrue” observations coming from Raj Bhavan against him that had “deeply hurt” him.
A day after Mr Bhardwaj formally rejected the government’s proposal recommending him as Lokayukta and returned the file, Justice Bannurmath told reporters here he has requested chief minister D.V. Sadananada Gowda not to consider him for the post so as to fill up the position expeditiously.
“After giving my anxious consideration, I have come to conclusion that I should convey to you immediately my request not to consider me...,” he said reading out from a letter he wrote to Mr Gowda on Monday.
Justice Bannurmath said the continued attack in the press on his integrity and character were totally based on “false, baseless, legally untenable and hurtful allegations”.
“I have lost mental peace and my health is affected on account of false and baseless allegations affecting my image and reputation in the eyes of the public. I am not in a position to bear this torture and humiliation any more,” he said. The post of Lokayukta has remained vacant since September 19.
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J&K mantri files afzal clemency resolution again
age CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, Feb. 7
Sheikh Abdur Rashid has done it again. The lone Independent member of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly has filed a fresh resolution seeking clemency for Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru with the request that it may be placed before the House for vote during the budget session.
A similar resolution moved by the MLA in September 2011 was stalled in the Assembly as pandemonium broke out leading to adjournment of the House without any business being transacted on the chosen day. While BJP had termed the resolution as “anti-national” and demanded that it should be dropped from the business of the House, a section of Congress MLAs had pressed the Speaker to reveal the names of the BJP MLAs who were expelled or suspended by the party high command for cross voting during J&K Legislative Council elections earlier.
Mr Sheikh had termed the disruption of the House proceedings as “deliberate attempt made at the behest of New Delhi” to stall his resolution on Guru. Later, he and his supporters had staged protests outside the legislature complex.