Karnataka Lokayukta quits in a huff

The most credible and respected institution in Karnataka fell on Wed'day evening when Lokayukta, Justice N Santosh Hegde, resigned protesting against State Govt's apathy in tackling corruption. Unsurprisingly, as with most things in Karnataka today, the role of the controversial mining sector and mining lords had no small role to play in his decision. Adding to drama, CM BS Yediyurappa virtually disappeared after the Lokayukta announced his resignation.

For the six crore Kannadigas, Hegde was a moral force that drove fear into the hearts of the corrupt, who operate with impunity and disregard the law. Under Hegde, an institution meant to nab corrupt officials had evolved. He was seen by the common people as their saviour, as one who helped them in matters ranging from getting pension to securing school admissions.

Frustrated by his inability to bring to book the corrupt his institution had nabbed, unable to protect his officers from official vindictiveness, and faced with an apathetic government unwilling to fill critical vacancies like the Upa Lokayukta,a disgusted Hegde quit. He had 14 months left of his tenure. His resignation is effective August 30. Said Hegde: "If I cannot protect an officer who was obeying me, then I should not be in a position where I give them directives.'' These were his parting words after tendering a four-line resignation letter to governor HR Bhardwaj. In his 90-minute news conference, Hegde explained the sequences of events that led him to take the extreme step. "The decision was not taken at the spur of the moment. It is not an emotional outburst. For a long time, I suffered mentally. The Govt ignored and showed indifference towards Lokayukta institution,'' he said.

Recalling his late father Justice S N Hegde, who had advised him to stay away from posts which do not require him, he said he would not stick to a post where he could not fight corruption. "I cannot stay for the red-light car and a government bungalow.''  Asked if he would reconsider if the government rectifies its mistakes, he said his decision is final; he is not in the habit of using a resignation letter as blackmail.
Hegde said he recently met Yeddyurappa."I made three requests;the third was about the government revoking the suspension of corrupt officials and reinstating them in the same post. I requested him to consult Lokayukta before revoking suspensions. The CM promised to do that. Within days, a suspended BBMP engineer was brought back to the same post; it was a slap on the face of Lokayukta institution.''

Referring to his investigation of mining issue, Hegde recalled that Lokayukta sleuths had helped forest and port officials confiscate over seven lakh tonnes of iron ore.Subsequently, five lakh tonnes, worth over Rs 250 crore, went missing. The Lokayukta then directed the local DCF Gokul to write to the CVC.
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CVC for changes in Corruption Act

The Central Vigilance Commission wants changes in the Prevention of Corruption Act to speed up investigation and trial of corrupt public servants. Besides seeking more special trial courts, the apex anti-corruption watchdog has asked the government to relook the legal and statutory powers given to the CVC in initiating probe against corrupt officials that would help in the speedy disposal of corruption cases. "There is a need to amend the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 197 of CrPC to enable faster sanction from authorities concerned to speed up inquiry and the judicial process,"Chief Vigilance Commissioner Pratyush Sinha told a news agency. It quoted Sinha as saying, "We have requested the government to increase the number of special courts to speed up the trials under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act." At present an estimated 40 special courts have been set up for the trial of cases under the PCA.
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(source-toi)