<p>The delay in appointing a Lokayukta today rocked the Karnataka Legislative Council with opposition members belonging to Congress and JDS demanding an adjournment motion.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Raising the issue during Zero Hour, M C Nanaiah (JDS) demanded an adjournment motion to discuss the delay in appointing a Lokayukta and was supported by R V Venkatesh of the Congress.<br /><br />They asked the state government to explain the reasons behind the delay.<br /><br />Nanaiah said the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the appointment of Upa Lokayukta but it has nothing to do with the appointment of Lokayukta. "We are not keen on discussing a sub-judice matter (Upa Lokayukta case)," he said.<br /><br />Chairman D H Shankarmurthy rejected the plea and adjourned the House for the day.<br /><br />Even after the House was adjourned, Opposition members kept chanting slogans against the government.<br /><br />Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar earlier told the House that the appointment of Lokayukta would be made after the apex court gave its verdict on a special leave plea challenging the High Court's order quashing notification appointing Justice Chandrashekaraiah as Upa Lokayukta and also prescribing the procedure for appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta.<br /><br />The post of Lokayukta has remained vacant since former Supreme Court Judge Shivaraj Patil, who succeeded high-profile Santosh Hegde, quit in the wake of allegations of getting land allotment in violation of rules.<br /><br />After Patil's exit, the BJP government recommended the name of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S R Bannurmath but Governor H R Bhardwaj refused to accept it insisting on a "spotless candidate". Bannurmath later himself opted out.</p>
<p>The delay in appointing a Lokayukta today rocked the Karnataka Legislative Council with opposition members belonging to Congress and JDS demanding an adjournment motion.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Raising the issue during Zero Hour, M C Nanaiah (JDS) demanded an adjournment motion to discuss the delay in appointing a Lokayukta and was supported by R V Venkatesh of the Congress.<br /><br />They asked the state government to explain the reasons behind the delay.<br /><br />Nanaiah said the Supreme Court is hearing a case on the appointment of Upa Lokayukta but it has nothing to do with the appointment of Lokayukta. "We are not keen on discussing a sub-judice matter (Upa Lokayukta case)," he said.<br /><br />Chairman D H Shankarmurthy rejected the plea and adjourned the House for the day.<br /><br />Even after the House was adjourned, Opposition members kept chanting slogans against the government.<br /><br />Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar earlier told the House that the appointment of Lokayukta would be made after the apex court gave its verdict on a special leave plea challenging the High Court's order quashing notification appointing Justice Chandrashekaraiah as Upa Lokayukta and also prescribing the procedure for appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta.<br /><br />The post of Lokayukta has remained vacant since former Supreme Court Judge Shivaraj Patil, who succeeded high-profile Santosh Hegde, quit in the wake of allegations of getting land allotment in violation of rules.<br /><br />After Patil's exit, the BJP government recommended the name of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S R Bannurmath but Governor H R Bhardwaj refused to accept it insisting on a "spotless candidate". Bannurmath later himself opted out.</p>