Removal of Lokayukta: Speaker to write to CJ

Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa on Saturday said he was studying the petitions seeking the removal of Lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao and Upalokayukta Subhash B Adi and it could take three to four days before he writes to Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court to start proceedings.

While the BJP and JD(S) had submitted a petition seeking the removal of Justice Rao, the Congress had submitted a petition seeking the removal of Justice Adi.

Thimmappa has admitted both the petitions after they were placed before the House. Congress’ petition seeking the removal of Justice Adi was admitted on Friday.

“I am studying the petitions and collecting more information. I will write to the chief justice in the next three to four days”, Thimmappa said.

Once the petitions are referred to the Chief Justice for conducting an investigation into the grounds on which the removal of the Lokayukta and Upalokayukta is sought by the legislators, both Justice Rao and Justice Adi will be precluded from discharging their duties during the pendency of the motion.

A vacuum will thus be created in the institution of the anti-corruption ombudsman.