Society to blame for corruption: Hegde

Not a single institution in the State is free from corruption. The people of Karnataka must  stand strong against the State government in order to rescue the institution of Lokayukta, Hegde said, addressing a gathering of retired Christian workers at the Mar Thoma Syrian Church on Prime Rose Road, on Wednesday.

“I call upon the citizens to come together and create forums, both online and outside, and express their opinions. The State government is clearly trying to get rid of the Lokayukta, but it is in the hands of the people to ensure that does not happen,” Hegde said replying to a question from an elderly woman.

He said the Lokayukta ran a 24x7 complaint cell and a redress forum, apart from conducting anti-corruption investigations. Calling on the people to boycott corrupt officials from all public events and felicitations, he said places of worship should also dwell on matters of corruption and create awareness among the community about the “sin that is corruption”.

Hegde also utilised the occasion to answer former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s charges and criticisms against him. He said it was neither him nor the Lokayukta who sent Yeddyurappa to jail, but rather a private complaint lodged by an individual regarding land denotification. He said he had not spared the Congress either in his report on mining, as the names of Dharam Singh and V Muniyappa find a mention in it.

‘No bar on second term’

Legal experts point out there is no bar in the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, on appointing an ombudsman for a second term. Former advocate general Uday Holla said:  “There are court verdicts which make it clear that Lokayukta is a constitutional post and it is not an employment under the State,” he said. Senior counsel M T Nanaiah said though there was no restriction on a second term for the Lokayukta, it was not feasible. “The term is for five years, and the incumbent usually crosses 70 years of age at the time of demitting office. It is not feasible to provide another term at that age.”