BANGALORE: The recent raids on five police officers by the Lokayukta, which yielded assets in real estate and jewellery worth over Rs. 60 crores, must be a wake up call, and the Government must consider framing stringent laws that will make corruption a difficult option, V.S. Ugrappa (Congress) said in the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

Initiating a discussion on the issue, Mr. Ugrappa said that in order to send the right signal, all the five officers should be immediately dismissed from service, their assets confiscated and criminal cases booked against them.

Action should also be initiated against them for filing false documents with the Income Tax Department.

`Time to introspect'

Mr. Ugrappa said it is also the time for legislators to introspect and see how public servants can be made more accountable.

Intervening at this point, Chairman V.R. Sudarshan said the Lokayukta is a creation of the Legislature, and Karnataka is the first to give life to that institution. Politicians today are more accountable to the people than public servants are, and the situation called for drastic changes in policy, he said.

Mr. Ugrappa suggested that just as legislators have to file affidavits declaring their assets, the rules already in existence for public servants should be tightened and new rules framed so that corrupt officials do not blame it on the system.

"The system needs changing and the mindset," he said and suggested that a monitoring committee be set up to inspect the assets of all bureaucrats and government employees at least once in three years.

Mr. Ugrappa said the Lokayukta, despite the lack of suo motu powers, has been exposing corruption among public servants. However, many of those who were exposed continue to thrive and have even been promoted thanks to the Government's lack of initiative in following up the exposes with action.

M.P. Nadagouda (Janata Dal-U) held up thick wad of newspaper clippings, which he said contained reports about corrupt officials caught in the Lokayukta net and follow-ups that showed how some of them have moved on to higher posts.

He suggested that the Lokayukta Act and rules be given a re-look, as there seemed to be many points of confrontation and cross-purposes between the duties of the Lokayukta and the Upa Lokayukta. These differences must not defeat the purpose for which the institution has been created, he said.

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