Consensus eludes on selection of Upalokayukta

A consultation meeting convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Tuesday to appoint a candidate for the post of Upalokayukta failed to arrive at a consensus.

At the meeting, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is said to have once again favoured the name of former High Court judge Justice K L Manjunath for the post, which has been laying vacant since the retirement of Justice Majage in June this year. Governor Vajubhai Vala has already rejected the government’s  recommendation to appoint Justice Manjunath for the post of Upalokayukta citing complaints against him.

It is learnt that the leaders of the Opposition in the Assembly and Council Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa respectively, favoured the names of former High Court judges Ajit Gunjal or Justice A S Pachchapure for the post. Siddaramaiah is said to have adjourned the meeting indefnitely.