Sticking to his guns over naming the new Lokayukta in Karnataka, Governor H R Bhardwaj on Wednesday insisted he would not appoint a “wrong person” and asked the BJP government to look for a figure who is above board.
Mr. Bhardwaj, who has rejected former Kerala Chief Justice S R Bannurmath’s name, said he needs to make the appointment after a lot of consideration as Lokayukta is a “very important institution”, relating to probity and anti-corruption.
“I have explained to the Government through a detailed letter and I hope it gets into the head of the Government. But I am not that (kind of) person who will appoint a wrong person”, the Governor told reporters.
Mr. Bhardwaj, often at loggerheads with BJP government, said “Let them appoint Justice (Santosh) Hegde again. I will sign in a minute. Let them appoint any judge who is above board.”
The Governor recently wrote to the government suggesting a “rethink” in view of charges against Justice Bannurmath and to select someone else. Justice Bannurmath is facing charges of securing land allotment in a judicial layout violating rules.
The government has stuck to its choice so far and repeatedly said Justice Bannurmath’s name was finalised as per procedure and precedents, and hinted that it’s firm on its choice, leading to some kind of a stand-off with Raj Bhavan.
Lokayukta post has been lying vacant for two months after retired Supreme Court Judge V Shivaraj Patil resigned abruptly in September six weeks into office after allegations of land allotment by a housing cooperative society in violation of laws surfaced against him.
Justice Patil had taken over in early August from Justice Hegde, who completed his five-year term.
When a reporter told him that “the Government plans to lead a delegation to President (Pratibha Patil), complaining against him for not implementing the recommendation (on Lokayukta)”, the Governor said, “They are constitutionally ill-advised”.
“(The) President will also ask them...what’s happening in Karnataka. Everybody in New Delhi knows what’s happening in Karnataka. Your newspaper reports are full of stories...how many more wickets are going to fall now...”, he remarked, apparently referring to corruption cases faced by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and some Ministers.
He also sought to warn the Government. “This kind of intimidation does not go well with me. I have been in public life for 30 years. That does not go well”, he said, adding, any Chief Minister trying to intimidate him would not get “any success from me”.
“But if they want Raj Bhavan should be intimidated by processions....that was tried earlier and you saw the fate. I am giving a sane advice to them free of cost: Bring a proper person (for the post of Lokayukta)”, Mr. Bhardwaj said.
When told that the Government is firm on its choice, the Governor said he wants it to be reasonable.
“As a friend of the Government, he (Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda) should have faith in me; whatever I am advising, it’s in his own interest”, Mr. Bhardwaj said.
