The former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde has expressed fears over the Karnataka Lokayukta Act being diluted by the State government as it is drafting a Bill to amend the Act on the lines of the Lokpal Act.
He was talking to presspersons after participating in a function to distribute awards institute by a weekly here on Wednesday.
Mr. Hegde said the Karnataka Lokayukta Act had been the strongest of the Lokayukta Acts brought by the State. The State government was now trying to bring in amendments and weaken the Act. “I will raise my voice as the matter relates to the Lokayukta institution and the Act,” he said.
On the recent statement of Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra that the government was open to suggestions, Mr. Hegde said the government should have a public debate on the proposed changes to the Karnataka Lokayukta Act.
He said there was a need for a strong Lokpal at the Centre. The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 does not provide teeth to the institutions of the Lokpal and the Lokayuktas and was not of help in tackling issues related maladministration and corruption. “There is a need for a strong Lokpal. But how it should be brought about has to be looked into,” he said.
