Didn’t know Ashwin was Ayukta’s son: Justice SB Majage

Bengaluru: On the day of his retirement on Friday, Upalokayukta Justice S.B. Majage claimed that he initially did not know Ashwin was Lokayukta Justice Bhaskar Rao’s son. “Only after media reports, I came to know that Ashwin was his son,” he added.

Speaking to reporters Justice Majage also hit out at fellow Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B. Adi, accusing him of ‘encroaching’ his jurisdiction. “Everything was fine for about 4-5 months after the present Lokayukta and Upalokayukta assumed charge. But, thereafter there was gradual encroachment of my jurisdiction. In fact, once I was asked some files to be given to the other Upalokayukta, when he wanted to go to a district, for which I did not agree. Meanwhile, in an enquiry file entrusted to me for enquiry and report, the other Upalokayukta received that file and prepared a report, recommending to drop the proceedings against a delinquent Government official. I noticed such encroachment increasing by leaps and bounds after there was wide publicity in the media about my visit to Mandur.”

“In fact, though former Upalokayukta Justice Chandrashekaraiah was senior to me in the High Court by six years and Justice Gururajan was senior by four years in the High Court, at no time, there was any occasion that any person or matter or petition or complaint coming to my jurisdiction was attended by any of them. It is true that a needy person who comes to us should not be sent back, but not when the authority concerned is very much available. Then it would not be proper and that will not help in any way. It appears that there was some hidden intention in assuming the powers, that too, to have control over the Bengaluru Urban District in particular. This requires a high level probe,” he said.

Though I wanted to raise this issue, I restrained myself from making it public to maintain the dignity of the Institution. But now it is not in our hands as we have to answer the public,” he added.

Justice Majage, who had assumed charge as Upalokayukta on July 19, 2010, also said that he never compromised his principles of honesty, integrity and sincerity in the discharge of his duties. Regarding corruption in Lokayukta, he said, “I don't want to say anything more about it, except to say that it is an unfortunate situation which should not have come to this Institution. There should be an unbiased and impartial inquiry.” It should be left to Justice Bhaskar Rao, whether to resign or not, he added.