Bengaluru: Former Lokayukta Justice Shivraj Patil held out a piece of advice to lawmakers demanding an amendment to the Lokayukta Act: Do not make changes in view of the cloud over the institution and Justice Bhaskar Rao but ensure that whoever occupies the post in future, functions without fear or favour.
Justice Patil said some legislators and Justice Santosh Hegde have spoken about the need for an amendment to the Lokayukta Act, including deletion of Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, to oust Justice Bhaskar Rao from the post. “Law cannot be devised for a particular instance, a particular day, or an individual. The amendment must stand the test of constitutionality. The pros and cons must be debated and safeguards built-in so that the Lokayukta functions independently, and without fear or favour. One must keep the future in mind while amending the Act,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
He admitted that he allocated work and areas/districts to two Upalokayukta during his brief stint as the Lokayukta. “Justice Majage was Upalokayukta-I and Justice Gururajan was Upalokayukta-2, but the latter resigned on health grounds, and Justice Subhash Adi replaced him. I delegated work to two Upalokayuktas and it is on record. Justice Majjige was given Bengaluru (Urban), and Justice Adi, Bengaluru (rural),” he added.
Justice Patil, however, declined to comment on the row between Justice Majjige and Justice Adi on issues like work allocated to them and on jurisdiction.
