‘Lokayukta needs power to prove corruption sans govt permit’

A file picture of Justice Santosh Hegde, Lokayukta of Karnataka. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde today said the institution of Lokayukta should be empowered to take a person accused of corruption to court without having to seek government permission.

“We are not seeking power to punish. We need powers to prove cases of corruption and take an accused to a court of law without having to seek government’s permission,” he said addressing students of a law college here.

Mr. Hegde said the people who are “perceived to be corrupt” should be boycotted by the society currently plagued by the “greed over need” disease eroding moral values.

If a time limit of six months is fixed for conviction or acquittal in cases of corruption, the malaise would be reduced by fifty percent, he said adding there should be a Lokayukta Act under the Indian constitution in all States.

Justice Hegde also said that the final report of the Lokayukta on the illegal mining in Kartnataka detailing the loss suffered by the country would be out shortly.