Karnataka: Three in race for new Lokayukta?
Bengaluru: The search for a new Lokayukta has become much easier after the state Legislature recently amended the Karnataka Lokayukta Act making even retired high court judges with 10 years experience eligible besides retired chief justices of the high court and retired Supreme Court judges.
Three names are already doing the rounds, said sources. They are Justice Vikramajit Sen, sitting judge of the Supreme Court who will retire on December 30, 2105, Justice Cyriac Joseph, former judge of the Supreme Court, and Justice S.R. Nayak, Chairman of the Karnataka Law Commission. The appointment of a Lokayukta has become necessary after Justice Bhaskar Rao resigned from the post following allegations that his son, Ashwin Rao, was involved in corruption.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the panel for making the appointment will meet on January 1, 2016 to discuss the names. Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said, “No names have been discussed at the government level. The names will be considered only during the meeting after ascertaining the legal experience of former judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.” Sources said Justice Nayak, who has already held the post of Chairman, State Human Rights Commission and is presently Chairman, Law Commission, is not among the frontrunners.
The opposition BJP too is moving cautiously on the selection process. Opposition leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar said, “The BJP has not suggested any names for Lokayukta. When the government suggests the names, we will give our feedback”.
Ayukta extortion case: SPP resigns
Mr Janaradhan, the Special Public Prosecutor appointed by the government in the Lokayukta extortion case, has resigned due to work pressure and personal reasons. He was appearing on behalf of the Special Investigation Team, which probed the case. He informed the Lokayukta Special Court on Monday that he tendered his resignation on December 7. As there were rumours that he had resigned as he was upset with SIT officials, he said that work pressure, and health problems were the only reasons.
Justice Rao as accused: Order on January 4
The Lokayukta Special Court on Monday admitted a petition requesting it to consider former Lokayukta Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao as an accused in the Lokayukta extortion case, and reserved its order to January 4. The petition has been filed by industrialist Alam Pasha. “The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the case, has considered Justice Rao as a witness. But the exercise of making calls to government officials, public representatives and industrialists and extorting money from them was carried out from Justice Rao’s official residence. There is no chance that he was not aware of an extortion racket functioning from within his office and residence. He should be treated as an accused and not as just a witness,” the petitioner submitted.
Reduce netas’ influence in top appointments: Bhushan
Social activist and Swaraj Abhiyan leader Prashant Bhushan on Monday said that embarrassing appointments like that of Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao to the post of Lokayukta will keep happening till politicians will have a say in such important postings.
Mr Bhushan, “The Karnataka Lokayukta Act is quite strong, and all it requires is a minor amendment which will restrict the say of politicians in such appointments. Our original idea of Jana Lokapal had this clause.” Politicians have a large say in all appointments, including that of the Election Commission, and such embarrassments are bound to happen. “Our original Jana Lokpal, which advocated reducing the influence of politicians, was stonewalled by the same politicians in Parliament. We need to fight it on the streets,” he said.
He said that the state government should not delay in including Justice Rao’s name in the chargesheet, if it gathers “enough” evidence to move an impeachment motion against him. “These are the cases that determine the course of history.”
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