No ulterior motive behind "delay" in Lokayukta appointment

There is no ulterior motive behind the "delay" in the appointment of the Karnataka Lokayukta, state Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar told the Assembly today.

In a reply to T B Jayachandra of the Congress during zero hour, Kumar said the appointment of the new Lokayukata has not been deliberately delayed.The Government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court seeking its guidance on consultations required during the process of appointment of the Lokayukta.

The Karnataka High Court yesterday observed that the "public is getting restless" because of the failure to appoint the Lokayukta for the past 10 months. Stating that the Government has taken note of the observations made by the High Court, Kumar said "we are anticipating the Supreme Court judgment on the appeal soon." The appointment of Lokayukta would be taken up on a priority basis soon after the apex court delivered its verdict on the appeal, he said.

Earlier, Jayachandra alleged that the government has been deliberately delaying the appointment of the Lokayukta fearing "more legislators and ministers would go to jail in the coming days". What prevented the government from appointing the Lokayukta, he asked.