Now, Vikramajit Sen and Nayak in race for Ayukta

Bengaluru: The choices for the new Lokayukta to replace Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao, who resigned recently, have narrowed down to former Karnataka high court chief justice Vikramajit Sen and former Chhattisgarh high court chief justice S.R. Nayak.

At a high-level meeting held here on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to select a new Lokayukta, members of the committee authorised the CM to take a final decision and send the name to Governor Vajubai Vala for his assent.

The meeting was attended by Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice S.K. Mukherjee, Legislative Council Chairman D.H. Shankaramurthy, Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council K.S. Eshwarappa and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle that while Mr Kagodu suggested the name of former chairman of Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC), Mr Nayak, opposition leaders and the Council chairman preferred Justice Sen for the post.

Since the meeting could not arrive at a consensus, the Chief Minister, who is head of the collegium, was authorised to take a decision. “It is between Mr Nayak and Mr Sen, one of them is going to be the next Lokayukta,” sources added. The meeting started an hour behind schedule due to the delay in the arrival of Mr Siddaramaiah from his tour in Belagavi district.

The names of former chief justice, Cyriac Joseph and former chief justice of Supreme Court, Mr H.L. Dattu reportedly did not come up for discussion at all.

The selection of a new Lokayukta was necessiated following the resignation of Justice Bhaskar Rao whose son Aswin Rao has been arrested on charges of misusing the anti-corruption institution. There was pressure from all quarters on Justice Rao to quit for reportedly maligning the Lokayukta. Subsequently, both Houses of the state Legislature moved a motion seeking removal of Justice Rao which prompted the latter to tender his resignation after going on three months leave. After the meeting, Mr Shettar said the selection was now confined to Justice Nayak or Justice Sen.