BENGALURU: Best efforts by the ruling Congress to drag the issue of ouster of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao not withstanding, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa admitted a motion moved by the combined Opposition in the Legislative Assembly for removal of the ombudsman on Monday.
Though the motion was moved soon after question hour, it was only after lunch that the Speaker announced that he would write to the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court to constitute a three-member committee to probe allegations and evidence against Justice Rao.
Soon after question hour, Mr Thimmappa asked legislators of both BJP and JD (S) to move the motion for removal of Lokayukta. When they moved the motion, he said that the motion was admitted and soon, he would write to the Chief Justice for an inquiry. At this juncture, law and parliamentary affairs minister T B Jayachandra intervened and said that even Congress legislators were in favour of the motion. Besides, as per the amended Lokayukta Act, the Speaker could take sometime before admitting the motion.
Mr Thimmappa replied that he had received the letters from Opposition parties last week, and subsequently consulted the ruling, Opposition party leaders, Advocate General, and SIT officials probing allegations of corruption before arriving at a conclusion. Mr Jayachandra, however, insisted that the Speaker take more time to admit the motion and quoted a section in the amended Act.
Unable to understand the logic, the Speaker and the Opposition said the motion was already admitted. Mr Thimmappa said he would draft a letter and consult everyone before forwarding it to the Chief Justice. At this point, Mr K R Ramesh Kumar intervened and requested that the House should adopt the motion and not admit it. “We also want to be a party to the motion. I don't want to face allegations that the ruling party is trying to protect the Lokayukta. So adoption of motion by the House will be more appropriate.”
Mr Thimmappa said he could only admit the motion, and adoption would be possible only after the CJ sends a report on allegations against Justice Rao.
Congress moves motion to impeach justice Adi amid high drama
In a dramatic turn of events, the ruling Congress succeeded in moving a motion to get rid of Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash Adi in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
The motion, which was subsequently admitted by Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, was the result of last minute maneuvers by some top Congress leaders who not only feared that Opposition parties would claim credit for fighting corruption in Lokayukta but also that Justice Adi could take a call on several complaints filed against the state government. The contents of the petition were not disclosed even to their party MLAs.
Sources in the Speaker’s office told Deccan Chronicle that this motion as well as one moved by the combined Opposition for ouster of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao would be sent to Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court soon, thus rendering both former judges ineffective.
Irked by such a move to remove Justice Adi, BJP legislators trooped into the well of the House charging the ruling party with attempting to sabotage their campaign against corruption. Leader of Opposition, Jagadish Shettar and former minister, S. Suresh Kumar asked “How can the ruling party behave so recklessly? Why such a hurry in moving this motion? If the party had decided to move such a motion, why did the party not appoint another Upa Lokayukta till date? These glaring questions will haunt the ruling party,” they charged. Amid the din, Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa adjourned the House.
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