Hunt for new Lokayukta in Karnataka begins

Mtoday/ PTI

Bangalore, 13 July 2011: The State Government has initiated the process of appointment of new Lokayukta as the present Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde retires on August 2. Thus, the demand of continuation of Hegde as the Lokayukta has got a red signal from the present BJP government.

Sources told The New Indian Express that Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has written a letter to heads of judiciary, Assembly and Council including the Opposition leaders in this regard. The letter was dispatched from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Monday to Chief Justice J S Khehar, Speaker of Legislative Assembly K G Bopaiah, Chairman of Legislative Council D H Shankaramurthy, Opposition leaders Siddaramaiah and Motamma.

They are requested to send their opinions and suggestions on or before July 18, sources added.

The letter was issued by the CMO under Section 3(2) (A) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act 1984. It clearly says that a person to be appointed as the Lokayukta shall be a person who has held the office of a Judge of the Supreme Court or that of the Chief Justice of a High Court and shall be appointed on the advice tendered by the chief minister in consultation with the heads of judiciary and both lower and upper houses of legislature including the opposition leaders of both the houses. Thus, the State Government has formally started the process of appointment of the new Lokayukta. Though Justice Hegde is ready to vacate his office on August 2, there is a demand from the general public and various organisations to continue Hegde as Lokayukta for another term.

In the meantime, several names of Judges of Supreme Court including a present Judge to the post of Lokayukta are doing rounds in government circles. Sources said that the names of Justice Raju Varadarajulu Raveendran, the present Supreme Court Judge and former Judges including Justice Shivaraj V Patil and Justice S R Bannurmutt are under serious consideration. Justice Raveendran is retiring on October 14 and the two others are retired judges.

On the other hand, the government is also looking at the caste angle as it has already appointed Upa Lokayukta, who belongs to Lingayat community. The government is cautious in selecting the Lokayukta this time.