Justice Ananda to take charge as Upalokayukta

Bengaluru/Ballari: The Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) issued a notification on Tuesday appointing former High Court Judge, Justice N. Ananda, as the Upalokayukta.

Following the approval given by Governor Vajubhai Vala on Monday to appoint Justice Ananada as Upalokayukta, the DPAR issued a notification to that effect. Sources said that the newly appointed Upalokayukta would assume charges from Thursday or Friday.

With this, the anarchy that ruled the state’s anti-corruption institution would come to an end. As former Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao had resigned on December 8 and Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi is not coming to office since a motion was moved to remove him, there was no authority to take decisions or clear pending files in the institution.

Justice Ananda will be replacing Justice S. B. Majage, who retired as Upalokayukta I on July 17.

Welcoming the appointment of Justice N Anand as Upa Lokayukta-1, social activist and founder president of Samaj Parivartan Samudaya (SPS) Mr S.R. Hiremath urged Lokayukta’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to arrest former Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao who resigned recently following charges of corruption.

Mr Hiremath, addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, said that SPS, which has filed a PIL in the High Court, has filed an affidavit listing serious charges against Justice Rao as the prime accused in the corruption and extortion scandal within the Lokayuka institution. “SPS is filing an interlocutory application this week, giving facts and documents supplementary to the affidavit praying for making Justice Rao the prime accused and for an independent, impartial and competent investigation by CBI. We are seeking prosecution of not only Justice Rao, but also senior officials involved in this unprecedented scandal,” he said.