'ACB a resultant of zero deliberations'

Former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde regretted that the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is a huge blunder which resulted out of zero deliberations.

Speaking to mediapersons, he said the ACB existed in 1974 with State Vigilance Committee. However, the number of cases handled by the ACB in the period from 1974 to 1984 is just 47 whereas Lokayukta institution has handled 754 cases from 2006 to 2014. The ACB just targeted the police constables and village accountants.

 Lokayukta has not spared chief minister, ministers, former chief ministers and bureaucrats, he observed.

He charged that it is an attempt to demoralise the Lokayukta institution. Lokayukta would not work under anyone. However, the ACB would headed by 7-8 IAS and IPS officers. These officials could also be corrupt. Permission of higher officers is required to try the accused who is in the lower cadre for the guilty under ACB, he said.

Hegde lamented that Lokayukta is now limited only to address the grievances of the public against the administration. Lokayukta police are not used to create awareness against corruption, which is truly depressing. In a case registered against the chief minister, the police have asked for the clarification over whether the chief minister is a public servant or not, he remarked. 

He said the state is in a unfortunate condition in terms of law. The police force is unable to make out the responsibility of the chief minister, he added.