Delay in appointing Lokayukta rocks Legislative Council

The delay in appointing a Lokayukta today rocked the Karnataka Legislative Council with opposition members belonging to Congress and JDS demanding an adjournment motion.

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.

They asked the state government to explain the reasons behind the delay.

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.

Chairman D H Shankarmurthy rejected the plea and adjourned the House for the day.

Even after the House was adjourned, Opposition members kept chanting slogans against the government.

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.

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.

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.