Karnataka - Bangalore   

A step in the right direction: Lokayukta

Staff Reporter

Focus is on drive against corruption, Chief Minister has said

BANGALORE: The new Government's assurance to confer more powers on the Lokayukta is a step in the right direction and will go a long way in putting down corruption, Lokayukta N. Venkatachala has said. He was reacting to the statement of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy after he was sworn in last week.

The Chief Minister had said that transparency in administration and drive against corruption would be the focus of the Government. He had said his Government would seriously consider the request of the Lokayukta.

The proposal of Mr. Venkatachala has been pending with the Government for long. He had asked the Government to give him powers to act against corrupt public servants. The power sought will enable the Lokayukta to take up investigation on the basis of a media report, signed or unsigned letters and a message over telephone.

Section 7 of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act does not confer such powers on the Lokayukta. It prescribes that the Lokayukta can act against Chief Minister, Ministers, MLAs, secretaries to government and a section of Group A officers, only on the basis of a complaint accompanied by an affidavit. But at the same time the Act gives powers to the Upa Lokayukta to take action against junior public servants in such cases.

According to Mr. Venkatachala, this division in powers has affected the initiation of action against public servants charged with misconduct.

The Upa Lokayukta, G. Patri Basavana Goud, has also supported Lokayukta's request for more powers. In a letter to the Government in November 2005, Mr. Goud noted that most of the investigations carried out by him were on the basis of newspaper reports and oral complaints. "Vesting the Lokayukta with suo motu power will be an advantage to the man on the street," Mr. Goud said.

Mr. Venkatachala told The Hindu on Friday that he is hopeful of the new Government accepting his recommendations.

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