Amid a raging row over an alleged extortion racket in the office of Lokayukta, a bill for simplifying procedure for removal of the anti-graft ombudsman was tabled in the Karnataka Assembly today.
Under attack from the Opposition for allegedly soft- pedalling serious charges of corruption in the office of Lokayukta, the state government tabled the Karnataka Lokayukta (Amendment) Bill, 2015 in the Assembly, a day after it was deferred following objections from opposition parties, BJP and JD(S).
The bill introduced by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said it considers it necessary to make amendments to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, in view of the recent developments in the Lokayukta organisation.
Karnataka Lokayukta Bhaskar Rao's son is at the centre of a controversy for allegedly being a key player in the racket in
collusion with some officials of the anti-corruption body.
The bill intends to revise the eligibility criteria for appointment of Lokayukta and Upalokayukta, to revise the procedure for their removal, to preclude them from discharging duties during the pendency of the motion for their removal, and to make the provision for submission of Annual Report of Lokayukta every year by October 31.
The government had in recent weeks been expressing its inability to remove Lokayukta despite the graft charges against his son.
In a concerted action in the recent legislature session, BJP and JDS had presented a petition signed by 57 MLAs to Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimappa, requesting him to allow a motion for the removal of Rao but in vain.
The Lokayukta is facing increasing heat from Opposition parties and various organisations to step down and allow a CBI probe into the alleged racket. But an unfazed Lokayukta is says he would quit if the charges are proved.
