JOIN USThe ruling Congress is planning to petition Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, seeking to move a motion for the removal of Upalokayukta Justice Subash B Adi.
Opposition BJP and JD(S) have similarly petitioned the Speaker separately, for moving a motion for the ouster of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao on the grounds of being “incapable” and corruption in the anti-corruption ombudsman’s office. The Congress, too, has indicated plans to seek the removal of the Lokayukta but is yet to make the formal move.
Sources in the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) said a group of party MLAs is planning to submit a petition to the Speaker on Monday, urging a discussion on controversies involving the Upalokayukta as well. The Speaker has already consented to a discussion on corruption in the Lokayukta institution, on Monday.
Final decision by CM
However, the Congress will take a final decision after consulting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the CLP leader, the sources said.
Congress legislators, V S Ugrappa, P M Ashok and H M Revanna, had recently demanded the resignation of Justice Adi for overstepping his jurisdiction and closing a case involving a close relative of BJP leader Jagadish Shettar.
The corruption case was related to government medical officer Dr Sheela Patil, who, according to Ugrappa, is a relative of Shettar.
The sources said even if the ruling party decides not to petition the Speaker, it may ask some of its members to raise the issue informally in the House. The ruling party wants to use the Upalokayukta issue to prevent the opposition BJP, especially Shettar, from embarrassing it while discussing the issue of corruption in the Lokayukta institution.
Speaking to reporters, minister Jayachandra said that the government does not have any plan to seek the removal of the Upalokayukta. But, if the legislators wish to do so, there is a provision to move such a motion against the Upalokayukta as well. As in the case of the procedure to remove the Lokayukta, here too a minimum of 75 MLAs of the total 225 MLAs have to back the motion.
The Assembly secretariat agenda for Monday, at the time of writing this report, does not include a debate on corruption in the Lokayukta office.