Justice Bhaskar Rao writes to govt seeking post-retirement benefits

Former Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao has written to the state government, urging it to sanction his post-retirement benefits. Justice Rao wrote the letter to the in-charge Registrar of Lokayukta, who in turn forwarded it to the government.

The letter by Justice Rao says that as per rule 6(1) of Karnataka Lokayukta Act, the allowances, excluding dearness allowances, pension and other conditions of service of Lokayukta shall be on a par with those applicable to the Chief Justice of India.

“I assumed the office of the Lokayukta on February 14, 2013 and functioned as such till December 6, 2015 and I tendered my resignation to the post of Lokayukta with effect from the forenoon of December 7, 2015. Chief Justice of India, on retirement, is entitled for the post retiral benefits as per rule 3B (1) of Supreme Court Judges Rules,” Justice Rao said in his letter.

The Supreme Court Judges Rules provides certain post retiral benefits such as, “Twenty Five Thousand rupees per month for defraying the services of an orderly, driver and security guard, for meeting the expenses incurred towards secretarial assistance on contract basis and for maintenance of an office-cum residence. He shall also be entitled to a residential telephone free of cost and the number of free calls to the extent of Rs 1,500 per month, over and above the number of free calls per month allowed by the telephone authorities.”

Justice Rao said that as per Section 23 (C) of Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service), he was entitled for reimbursement of medical expenses.

Justice Rao asked the incharge Registrar to address the letter to the government for sanctioning of the benefits. The in-charge registrar forwarded the letter to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) on March 1, 2016.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the corruption and extortion within Lokayukta, is still waiting for the sanction of prosecution order against Justice Rao.

The SIT had charged Justice Rao with abetting his son Y Ashwin, who is accused of running an extortion racket in the Lokayukta office. Ashwin is the prime accused in the five first information reports filed by the SIT.