Lokayukta post: It's now between Justices Sen, Nayak

Meeting leaves final choice to chief minister's discretion

The race for the new Lokayukta has narrowed down with only two names, that of Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice S R Nayak, being discussed at a meeting held by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday.

The meeting ended with a majority suggesting the name of Justice Sen, who retired as a Supreme Court judge on December 30, 2015, while a few pushed the name of Justice Nayak, who had earlier served as chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission.

The meeting, held at Kumara Krupa guest house, was attended by Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, acting Chief Justice of the High Court, Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, Chairman of the Legislative Council D H Shankaramurthy, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar and his counterpart in the Council K S Eshwarappa.

After the meeting, Shettar told mediapersons, “Myself, Shankaramurthy and Eshwarappa suggested the name of Justice Sen for the post of Lokayukta. Justice Mukherjee also showed his inclination for Justice Sen. Speaker Thimmappa has suggested Justice Nayak's name. However, the chief minister did not put forth any name. We have left it to the discretion of the chief minister to finalise a name.”

Sources said that when Thimmappa proposed the name of Justice Nayak, opposition leaders raised an objection, saying he had already served as chairperson of the SHRC and that there would be criticism from all corners.

“The chief minister was more inclined to recommend Justice Nayak’s name to the Governor for the post,” a source said. However, a Congress leader said that Siddaramaiah was also willing to forward Justice Sen’s name.

Governor Vajubhai Vala had thrice rejected the name of retired High Court judge K L Manjunath for the post of Upalokayukta. Later, Siddaramaiah held a meeting with all concerned, as stated in the Lokayukta Act, and finalised Justice N Ananda’s name.

Justice Y Bhaskar Rao had resigned as the Lokayukta on December 7, 2015, which was accepted by the Governor the next day. Justice Rao sent his resignation after the Legislative Assembly admitted a motion to remove him as Lokayukta, over extortion scam in the office of the anti-graft ombudsman, involving his son Yerabati Ashwin.