Though still waiting for suo motu powers, the Karnataka Lokayukta has already got “additional eyes and ears!”
Yes, every movement within the Lokayukta office premises in Bangalore is being silently watched with the installation of hidden closed circuit video cameras.
Not just that. Even conversations are also being recorded along with the video. Microphones attached to the hidden cameras enable recording of sound from a particular range.
Right from the entrance of the office till the chambers of the Lokayukta and the Upalokayukta, all public areas of the office situated in the Multi-storeyed building next to Vikas Soudha were being monitored through closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance system.
The modern surveillance system has the facility to record - both video and audio – through CCTV for a period of six months continuously.
After six months, the recorded audio and video content can be stored by transferring it to a compact disc. A monitoring room has also been established to keep a watch on the movements of staff and visitors. Besides, Lokayukta can view the CCTV footage on a monitor kept in his chamber.
The surveillance system has been installed without any publicity under the police modernisation project.

Why surveillance?
It was mainly the complaints against the staff of the Lokayukta that necessitated installation of electronic monitoring system and to bring in transparency in functioning, says Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde.
“We decided to install the system after receiving many complaints against some of our own staff and officials that they were allegedly indulging in corrupt practices. It came to our knowledge that information regarding receipt of complaint against a particular government servant, details of surprise inspections, raids were being leaked by some persons within the institution,” said Justice Hegde.
Complaints did not end there. Some of the “victim government servants” complained that someone from the Lokayukta are blackmailing them for money either for not registering a case or threatening to register a false case, Justice Hegde pointed out. Sound recording facility would check staff from leaking information to the outsiders through the phones.

Defence tool
The surveillance system, besides acting as a deterrent against corruption amongst the staff,  also acts as a “defence tool” to protect them from false allegations, harassment and other frivolous complaints as they will be dealing with many confidential information, says Justice Hegde adding that protecting the staff of the institution from harassment is also equally important.
Justice Hegde says that surveillance system would bring in responsibility, accountability among all ranks of the staff  besides helping them to overcome unnecessary trouble from the unscrupulous persons.