BENGALURU: Karnataka’s premier anti-corruption institution sank into its worst crisis since inception as the combined Opposition and the ruling Congress moved motions for removal of Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao and Upa Lokayukta Subhash Adi respectively in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
With Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa admitting both motions under provisions of the amended Lokayukta Act, Justice Rao and Justice Adi would be rendered ineffective once the presiding officer writes to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court for constitution of inquiry committees to probe allegations and scrutinize evidence submitted to buttress these charges.
These committees must complete their inquiry and submit reports within three months, but with the post of another Upa Lokayukta remaining unoccupied following the retirement of Justice S.B. Majage in July 2015, the institution would temporarily be rendered hors de combat.
When the combined Opposition moved the motion soon after question hour, law and parliamentary affairs minister T.B. Jayachandra said even Congress legislators were in favour of the motion, but requested the Speaker to take some time before admitting the motion.
Mr Kagodu Thimmappa, however, ruled that he would write to the Chief Justice in three or four days as he had already consulted leaders of all parties and officers of Special Investigation Team set up by the state government to probe complaints of corruption against the ombudsman.
Later, Congress leaders submitted a motion against Upa Lokayukta Justice Adi, which was also admitted by the Speaker. Interestingly, its contents were not revealed even to their MLAs.
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