Lokayukta for state after SC verdict: CM

Rejecting opposition charge that the BJP government was not keen on appointment of Lokayukta, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Thursday said the post would be filled once the Supreme Court gave its verdict on a connected petition.

The appointment of Lokayukta would be made after the apex court gave its verdict on a special leave petition challenging state high Court’s order quashing the notification appointing Justice Chandrashekaraiah as Upa Lokayukta and also prescribing the procedure for appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta, he said in the Legislative Council.

Responding to Congress member K Govindaraj, who raised the issue of delay in filling the post of Lokayukta lying vacant since September 29, 2011, Shettar said it was wrong to say that the government was not keen on appointing Lokayukta.

 

Not satisfied with Shettar’s reply, Congress members led by Leader of the Opposition S R Patil staged a walkout shouting slogans against the government. Earlier, raising the issue, Govindaraj sought reasons for the delay in appointment of the Lokayukta and questioned the intentions of the state government by asking whether it was interested in appointing the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta.