The Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice N. Santosh Hegde, on Saturday said some more amendments are needed for the Karnataka Lokayukta Act. The Lokayukta has been fighting for it. Till now, it has not been successful, except getting the power to order suo motu enquiry only against officers, not political bosses.
Delivering the Nani Palkhivala Memorial Lecture on “Good governance – the Role of Lok Ayukta,” under the auspices of the Palkhivala Foundation here, he said there could be no major corruption without the connivance of bureaucrats with political bosses. While getting power, the Karnataka Lokayukta had stood its ground against political and administrative pressures. The institution had also sought an amendment to the law to the effect that sanction to prosecute officers would be deemed to have been secured if the Lok Ayukta approved the charge sheet. At present, sanction was being accorded, but it took time. He felt that the sanctioning authority should be the Lok Ayukta itself. The institution should be trusted.
Mr. Justice Hegde said the Lok Ayukta Police had trapped 1400 cases in the last four years and at least 60 per cent of those caught were IAS, IPS and other officers.
Answering a question from a member of the audience, Mr. Justice Hegde said not a single case had come to the stage of trial.
As part of its efforts to curb corruption, he said the Lok Ayukta had identified departments. It was also rounding up touts holding them as abetters and charge sheeting them.
In that atmosphere, officers who received bribes came up with innovative other methods to take bribes. Fortunately, the Lok Ayukta had the necessary equipment and the erring officers were caught. The institution was known as one which was fighting corruption, but actually the job which gave it more satisfaction was supervising or overseeing good governance, which was the object of the Lokayukta Act.
He pointed out that he had been emphasising that there was a need for a humanitarian consideration and honesty in government departments towards solving problems faced by people. His own office served as a model for others. The feedback from other offices was good.
He cited instances, including one where the Lok Ayukta arranged for medical treatment of the child of a physically handicapped tailor, from whom a paediatric surgeon demanded bribe. The Lok Ayukta was making a vigorous drive against such corrupt officers.
Answering questions, he explained that younger generation should fight corruption.
Mr. Justice Santosh Hegde released the newsletter of the Nani Palkhivala Arbitration Centre. Arvind P. Datar, Senior Advocate and N.L. Rajah, advocate were among those who spoke.
