Call to retain Justice Adi gets shriller, online support grows

Civic groups petition CM, recall Upalokayukta's role in saving lakes

In the wake of Congress legislators’ move to bring in a motion in the Assembly, seeking the removal of Upalokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi, members of various lake trusts and civic groups of Bengaluru have started an online petition seeking the chief minister’s intervention to stop such attempts.

Addressed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the petition on change.org has garnered more than 150 supporters within two days. The Iblur lake team, Save Varthur lake team, Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust  (PNLIT), Forum for Sustainable South Bangalore, Kaikondrahalli lake team among others have reminded the CM about the steps taken by the Upalokayukta to revive water bodies.

Usha Rajagopalan, chairperson, PNLIT, said Justice Adi was able to do what no one else could, neither officials nor politicians, with regard to relocating the slum from the Puttenahalli lake bund. She said, “The slum was relocated with proper infrastructure facility. The Lokayukta office is a much-needed one and the post should be protected, specially when there is a right person working there.”

Priya Ramasubban, Trustee of Mahadevapura Parisara Samrakshana Mathu Abhivrudhi Samiti, pointed out that due to the efforts of  Justice Adi, the Bengaluru Urban Revenue department officials intervened and notices were issued to the encroachers of Iblur lake.

“The case was heard and disposed of in the High Court, paving the way for the demolition of the unauthorised structures in 2014,” she said. Ramasubban said that she and her supporters would call on the chief minister and Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala in this regard. Adarsh Iyer of the Janadhikara Sangharsh Parishat, said that his organisation would hold a meet on December 1 at Maurya Circle near the Gandhi statue.
He said members of lake teams, residents’ welfare associations and citizens would take part to express support for Justice Adi. Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are flooded with messages and outrage against the government.

“The motion moved against him is unnecessary. With the removal of Bhaskar Rao and Subhash Adi, there will be no Lokayukta in the State,” said Mahesh G on his fb post.
A twitter user posted, “Dear chief minister, do not remove Upalokayukta Justice Subhash Adi.”