'Empower Lokayukta to file plaints against corrupt officials'

Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao has said that the Lokayukta should be empowered to directly file complaints against those involved in corruption and corrupt activities.

Speaking to mediapersons after receiving complaints from the public here on Tuesday, he said that the Central government should bring in amendment to the Act for entrusting special power to Lokayukta. The Central government should bring in amendment to the Act within three months. To make Lokayukta institution strong, the government should fill 113 vacant posts. A proposal has already been submitted to the government.

A total of 6,011 cases were pending for disposal before the lokayukta when I took charge. As many as 5,335 cases have been disposed so far. In the last one year, the Lokayukta has conducted 119 raids, booked 304 bribery cases. A total of property worth Rs 120 crore has been seized. The prosecution rate was 31 per cent when I took charge as the Lokayukta of Karnataka. It has been increased to 34.10 per cent.”  The Lokayukta said that nine bribery cases have been registered in Chikmagalur district in the last one year. A total of 61 applications were disposed at the grievances meeting.

“I have written to the Centre to increase the year of imrprisonment and fine amount for those accused involved in illegal mining,” Justice Rao said.

He said that no Forest Acts will come in the way of providing basic facilities. Road, electricity and drinking water is a basic right of a humanbeing. It is an offence to snatch away the right. He directed the officials to ensure that no tribal in the forest areas are denied of facilities.

‘Submit report’

Earlier in the hearing, the Lokayukta directed the executive engineer to conduct a probe into the work on removing silt of lakes within four months and submit a report to the Lokayukta.

Mudigere Raitha Sangha leader Puttaswamy Gowda in his complaint had said that bills have been cleared without completing the work. Even trees have been felled.

Raitha Sangha State Secretary Manjunath said that deep sand mining is being carried out unabatted in Kanachoor, Angadi and Bettadakallu on the banks of river Hemavathi in Mudigere taluk. Twelve thousand cubic metre sand is being extracted by violating the rules, to which, he said that there is a need to conduct probe into sand mining.

Shankaranarayana Bhat said that there is acute shortage of doctors in Balehonnur, to which, he directed the DHO to appoint doctors for the health care needs of the people.
The Lokayukta also directed department of animal husbandry to probe into alleged ancroachment of 18 acre land belonging to Basoor kaval.

Deputy Commissioner B S Shekarappa, SP R Chetan among others were present.