N.P. Amrutesh and S. Natarajasharma, senior advocates of the High Court of Karnataka, and activists of Janmabhoomi Foundation have condemned the recent decision of the State government to form the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
They said that the Chief Minister had defanged the Lokayukta and appointed himself as investigator, judge and jury through the ACB. This is an attempt by the Siddaramaiah government to weaken the anti-corruption watchdog and to shield the Chief Minister and a few of his colleagues who were caught in serious scandals, they said.
Mr. Siddaramaiah is apprehensive that he too may have to go behind bars if the Lokayutha were to be continued, they said and questioned how an executive order of the government could replace legislation.
Mr. Amrutesh said the Karnataka Lokayukta was once considered to be one of the strongest anti-corruption bodies in the country and the government, instead of strengthening the institution, indulged in forming the ACB. All complaints that the Lokayukta police was examining so far would be moved to the ACB — many of which include complaints against the Chief Minister and his bureaucrats, he said and questioned whether a fair trial could be conducted by an institution, which was under the direct control of the Chief Minister.
He termed Mr. Siddaramaiah’s defence that the ACB would not take away the powers of the Lokayukta to probe the CM or ministers as funny and far from truth.
The advocates and the Janmabhoomi Foundation has organised a ‘jatha’ from Bengaluru to Mysuru on April 16 to create awareness among people about the “crooked agenda” of the government behind formation of the ACB. The jatha is prelude to a major agitation if the government failed to withdraw its decision to form the ACB, the advocates said. Santosh Hegde, former Lokayukta, Pramila Nesargi, former MLA and veteran advocate, and hundreds of advocates and activists of Janmabhoomi Foundation are expected to take part in the jatha.
