The post of Karnataka Lokayukta is likely to remain vacant for some more time, with Governor Vajubhai R. Vala asking the government to reconsider its decision to name P. Vishwanath Shetty, former High Court judge, for the post.
According to sources in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Mr. Vala has cited allegations raised by social activist S.R. Hiremath on a housing site owned by his family in violation of norms as the reason for returning the file. Sources also said that “the queries raised by the Governor would be replied to in detail” by the CMO.
Mr. Shetty had emerged the consensus candidate for the post by a high-level committee, which included Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Opposition leaders. The post has remained vacant since December 8, 2015, after Y. Bhaskar Rao resigned following the alleged involvement of his son, Ashwin Y., in an extortion racket.
‘Not the first time’
This is not the first time the Governor has rejected someone proposed by the State government for the post of Lokayukta.
He has sent back proposals twice to appoint the incumbent Karnataka Law Commission Chairman S.R. Nayak as the Lokayukta — once in February 2016 and then in May. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continued to champion Mr. Nayak’s candidature. Mr. Siddaramaiah was part of the three-member selection committee that met recently and proposed the former High Court judge P. Vishwanath Shetty for the post.
Earlier, the State government was left embarrassed when the former Supreme Court judge Vikramjit Sen withdrew his consent for his name being considered for the post.
The post of the Lokayukta has been vacant for over an year now, after Y. Bhaskar Rao resigned as a motion to remove him was moved in the Legislative Assembly following a bribery scandal in the Lokayukta institution involving his son was unearthed.
Prior to the appointment of Mr. Rao, as the Lokayukta, the post was vacant for over a year and a half after Shivaraj V. Patil resigned following allegations of owning a site in judicial layout here despite having other properties, an allegation very similar to what has now cropped up against Mr. Shetty.
The State government had similar experiences during selection of the Upalokayukta too. The Governor had rejected the name of the former High Court judge K.L. Manjunath thrice over similar allegations before the government suggested the name of N. Ananda, which was accepted by the Governor.
