State to see Upa Lok Ayukta soon

The Karnataka government on Wednesday announced that it would soon appoint an Upa Lok Ayukta. The position has remained vacant for the last six months. This was among a few demands made by the Karnataka Lok Ayukta Santosh Hegde before the state government.

Chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who held a meeting with floor leaders of both Houses of the state legislature on strengthening the Lokayukta, later told reporters, “The government will appoint the Upa Lokayukta in 4-5 days.”

The office of the Upa Lok Ayukta remained vacant since December 29, 2009, after the term of Patri Basanagouda ended. Non-appointment of the Upa Lok Ayukta by the government for the last few months was one of the major reasons cited by justice Hegde for his resignation, which he later withdraew following appeals by top BJP leaders, including L K Advani, party president Nitin Gadkari, among others.

Yeddyurappa, who chaired the meeting, said that opposition leaders of both Houses have given their suggestions on granting more powers to the Lok Ayukta. The issue would be discussed in the state cabinet meeting, he said.

Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar said the cabinet would meet on Thursday and discuss the issue of strengthening the Lokayukta. The chief minister is expected to give his reply to the week-long debate on resignation of the Lokayukta on July 23 and illegal mining after the cabinet finalises the government stand on the issue. Kumar said the government was also committed to banning illegal mining in the state.

Leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah and his counterpart in the Council, Motamma, JD(S) leaders M C Nanaiah in the council and JD (S) Legislature Party leader in the Assembly H D Revanna, Advocate General Ashok Harnahalli, Ministers V S Acharya, S Suresh Kumar, Katta Subramanya Naidu, Basavaraj Bommai and Chief Secretary S V Ranganath attended the meting.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde today met Governor H R Bhardwaj and formally withdrew his resignation.