Relief at Karnataka Lokayukta office, but case backlog a concern

Bengaluru: A day after the Governor accepted the resignation of Justice Y. Bhaskar Rao as the Lokayukta there was a reported sense of relief in the anti-corruption institution with some of the senior officers stating that it (Justice Rao's resignation) was 'inevitable and should have happened long ago'.

“He should have stepped down to save the image and integrity of the institution,” said an officer on condition of anonymity. Work in the Lokayukta has been severely affected since May this year after the corruption racket, which was allegedly being spearheaded by Justice Rao's son Y. Ashwin became public.

“The Lokayukta is a people's institution. More than anti-corruption it is a platform for the underprivileged people to get justice from the government departments. Thousands of complaints from people from across the State have piled up with no one to look into them,” said another officer. Meanwhile, the government’s decision to appoint former High Court judge Justice Ananda as Upalokayukta -II in place of retired Upalokayukta Justice Majage has been welcomed by the officers in the Lokayukta.

According to a retired judge, Justice Ananda has an impeccable track record and can only “mean well” for the anti corruption watchdog. Regarding the appointment of the new Lokayukta the process will start soon with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah nominating the names of three retired judges to the appointment committee comprising the Chief Justice, leaders of the Opposition in the Assembly and the Council, Speaker of the Assembly and Chairman of the Council for approval.

“The name of former chairman of State Human Rights Commission and chairman of the Law Commission Justice S.R. Nayak as one of the contenders has been doing the rounds, but he cannot be appointed as the Lokayukta. He is ineligible for further employment under the State or Central government as he has served as the Chairman of SHRC,” said an official source.

Changes in police wing soon

Besides the overhaul in the judicial wing in the Lokayukta, the police wing in the anti-corruption institution will also be ‘redone’ with some impending promotions and expected transfers of senior police officers. Superintendent of Police, City wing Sonia Narang, who had blown the lid off the corruption scam in May is due for promotion as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIGP) this month end. “She is likely to be transferred out of the Lokayukta. Some other senior officers may also be transferred around the time,” said an official government source.

I have done my duty: Sonia Narang

Bengaluru: “I don’t want to react. As an officer, I have done my work and I don’t want to make any comments as I have done my duty and I have done my work,” said Lokayukta Superintendent of Police, Sonia Narang when she was asked for a reaction on the developments since the day she registered the complaint of the PWD Executive Engineer M.N. Krishnamurthy, which snowballed resulting in the arrest of Lokayukta’s son Ashwin Y, Lokayukta PRO Syed Riyaz and several other extortionists and finally resulted in Lokayukta Y. Bhaskar Rao’s resignation.

Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.