Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker backs House on Lokayukta Rao’s ouster

Bengaluru: With ‘tainted’ Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao sticking to his chair and showing no signs of giving it up, the state legislature did what it can do at best - reiterate in one voice that he had lost the moral right to continue in office and hope better sense would prevail and he would demit office.

Assembly members cutting across party lines unequivocally supported Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa’s view that Justice Rao should resign. Intervening in the debate on corruption in the Lokayukta, Mr Thimmappa said the House wants Justice Rao to quit which is the opinion of people of Karnataka too. “That is the message we are passing to him through the media. If he (Justice Rao) has any sense left in him, he should not continue in that office.”

Former law minister, S. Suresh Kumar demanded that the entire House pass a resolution asking Justice Rao to quit. “I can understand the predicament of the state government, which neither wants to ask him to quit nor is ready to hand over the case to the CBI. In such a scenario, we are left with a choice to send him a unanimous resolution asking him to quit office,” he said.

At this juncture, former Speaker, K.R. Ramesh Kumar cautioned that sending a unanimous resolution to Justice Rao might seem very attractive but it has its flipside too. “What if Justice Rao decides not to respond to the resolution? It will demean this House. Therefore, it would be appropriate for the House to debate and pass a bill amending existing laws to enable his impeachment. It should happen in two days, he will surely get the message that this is what people and people’s representatives want from him,” he explained.

Hearing both arguments, Speaker Thimmappa observed that Justice Rao was a ‘thick-skinned’ man, on whom no amount of pressure seemed to be working. “Therefore it would be appropriate for him to get the message loud and clear that House members do not wish to see him in that position. He must take note,” he said angrily.

Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao

Motion to debate removal of Ayukta rejected

Chairman of the Legislative Council D.H. Shankara Murthy on Thursday rejected a motion seeking a discussion on removal of Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao in the wake of charges of corruption against his son, Ashwin.

Making an announcement to this effect, Mr Shankara Murthy said as many as 33 members belonging to the BJP and Janata Dal (S) had given a notice jointly to debate removal of the Lokayukta. Subsequently, he consulted legal experts on the admissibility of the motion under Judges (Inquiry) Act 1968 but they replied that the motion cannot be allowed since the members had not furnished documents and evidence to substantiate their charges against the Lokayukta. Therefore, the motion given by Opposition members on July 2 had been rejected. They, however, would be allowed to discuss the issue under rule 78 on Monday.

Leader of the House and IT/BT minister S.R. Patil defended the decision to allowing the Advocate General to attend a meeting of the joint BAC, saying there was no harm in seeking his suggestions as the House had powers to summon him, if necessary.

H.D. Kumaraswamy

Corrupt in Lokayukta are protected: H.D. Kumaraswamy

JD(S) floor leader in the Legislative Assembly, H.D. Kumaraswamy charged the state government with making attempts to protect those involved in corruption in Lokayukta during a debate on the issue in the House on Thursday.

Mr Kumaraswamy accused the government of adopting double standards while dealing with Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) and the Lokayukta. He explained how superintendent of police, Lokayukta,  Sonia Narang registered a FIR on July 1 though she received a complaint on June 7, and the accused, Ashwin, received a copy of the FIR immediately so that he could move the high court for a stay. On the other hand, when it came to KPSC, a complaint was received by the Advocate General, without any mention of  corruption.

Later, in the statement of Dr Maithri, the allegation of corruption was included. Though the government had no right to initiate action against members of KPSC, the government recommended suspension of four members. Subsequently, the government realised its blunder and discussed it in a meeting of the Cabinet, he said.

He also alleged that during the time Mrs Narang received the complaint and filed a FIR, the Lokayukta had registered a case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and issued a notice on denotification of land in Arkavati layout. After Mrs Narang’s letter was made public, the Chief Secretary and principal secretary to the Chief Minister held a meeting with the Lokayukta in private on a Sunday. “What transpired during that meeting is the biggest question,” he charged.

Mr Kumaraswamy also charged that the case of Rs 36 lakhs being transported to Bengaluru in a government car, which was intercepted by Lokayukta police, actually meant to be paid to a minister. However, the superintendent of police, Lokayukta, who conducted the investigation, was asked to go on long leave. Besides, Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao had collected over  Rs 60 lakhs from officers just to make a trip to Tirupathi, he added.

Leaders lock horns

Heated arguments between Mr Kumaraswamy and ministers marred the debated on charges of corruption in Lokayukta. It started with Mr Basavaraj Bommai, BJP, alleging that the Lokayukta was being misused by the state government to register cases against political opponents like Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa and Mr Kumaraswamy.

Irked by his remark, energy minister D.K. Shivakumar asked how fellow legislators responded when cases were being filed against his brother, his wife and himself. He and home minister K.J. George locked horns with Mr Kumaraswamy, saying Mr Deve Gowda and his family had misused power to settle scores with political rivals. Mr Kumaraswamy retorted saying he would table all documents in the House.