Bengaluru: The Lokayukta, the prime anti-coruption body in the state, is likely to remain headless for many more months with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah reportedly not ready to recommend any name other than that of former Karnataka Human Rights Commission (KHRC) chairman Justice S.R. Nayak. His name has already been rejected by the governor following complaints from several organisations and advocates.
Sources close to Chief Minister told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Siddaramaiah was adamant on making Justice Nayak the successor of Justice Bhaskar Rao who resigned last year following charges of misuse of office. Several ruling Congress legislators had appealed to the Chief Minister to find out an alternative candidate and send his/her name to Governor Vajubhai Vala so that the anti-corruption institution could function normally.
However, the Chief Minister has reportedly made the appointment of Justice Nayak a matter of prestige and is not ready to listen to even his legislators and ministers. Though, the opposition parties came out with alternative names for the Lokayukta’s post, the CM recommended only the name of Justice Nayak who has been accused of owning more than one residential site in Bengaluru city. With no unanimity among the ruling and opposition parties, the governor is waiting for the next move from the government.
Sources said that a couple of senior ministers reportedly advised Mr Siddaramaiah to scout for another candidate since the governor had rejected Mr Nayak's name. But the Chief Minister seems ready to wait till the governor gives his approval. With both the state government and Raj Bhavan sticking to their guns, an early appointment of the Lokayukta is a distant dream, sources said.
A minister on the condition of anonymity said that people who have seen the functioning of Justice Santosh Hegde and Justice Venkatachalaiah as Lokayukta, want to have a person of caliber to occupy the post and send a strong signal to corrupt government employees.
The non-appointment of the Lokayukta is likely to impact the Congress party when they approach the people in 2018, he noted. He admitted that the newly-created Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had failed to make any dent as people have no faith on it.
