House panel wants CMs under lokayukta

Chief ministers should be brought under the purview of anti-graft lokayukytas in all the states since their position is not identical to that of the prime minister, according to a key recommendation of the parliamentary panel examining the Lokpal Bill.

The parliamentary standing

committee on law and justice, headed by Abhishek Singhvi, has concluded that in case a situation arises where a chief minister is forced to step down on charges of corruption, it would not lead to any constitutional crisis unlike at the Centre.

"The committee believes that the position of the chief minister is not identical to that of the prime minister. The arguments for preventing instability and those relating to national security or the image of the country do not apply in case of a chief minister," the draft report said.

The panel has also recommended that the lokayuktas should be given power to recommend action against ministers, MLAs and the chief minister found guilty of involvement in an act of corruption.

“The competent authority to take action against the minister would be the CM, against the MLA it would be the presiding officer of the House (Vidhan Sabha or Vidhan Parishad) and for the CM it would be the governor," says the report.

Currently, lokayuktas exist in 17 of the 28 states and this year has seen a direct confrontation between the anti-graft watchdogs and state governments of Gujarat and Karnataka.

Keeping this in mind, the panel has asked the Centre to expand the scope of the Lokpal Bill and lay down uniform standards for appointment of lokayuktas in states. The panel pointed out that even in states where lokayuktas existed, "There had been examples of the post lying vacant for periods ranging from two months to eight years."

Justice Manmohan Sarin, the lokayukta of Delhi, had demanded more powers for the anti-graft watchdogs in states, saying the institution had been reduced to a "toothless" tiger.

"Lokayuktas can do no more than name and shame. There is an urgent need to bring uniformity in the appointments and powers of lokayuktas in all the states.”

Lokayukta police files FIR against Yeddy, Somanna

Spelling fresh trouble for former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, Lokayukta police on Saturday filed an FIR against him, Housing Minister V Somanna and two others, alleging irregularities in denotification of land."An FIR has been filed against Yeddyurappa and Somanna, mainly under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and also for misappropriation, breach of criminal trust and forging documents," City Lokayukta Superintendent of Police Shivashankar said.

The FIR was filed following Lokayukta court Judge NK Sudhindra Rao's directve to Lokayukta SP (Bangalore Urban) to conduct a probe under relevant sections of the CrPC and submit his report on December 26.

The complainant, Ravi Krishnareddy, a software engineer, alleged Yeddyurappa denotified 22 guntas (one gunta is about 1086 square feet) of land in Nagadevanahalli here in 2009 to an education trust owned by Somanna's wife in violation of rules.

The land had already been acquired by Bangalore Development Authority in 1998, he submitted, adding a building constructed by the trust on it is "illegal" as it had not been accorded permission.

Shailaja and Lingaraju, the erstwhile land owner, are the two other persons named in the complaint.

Yeddyurappa, who has been facing five complaints, has secured bail in two, paving the way for his release from jail on Nov 8 after a 25 day long stay.

Karnataka Governor would approve Santosh Hegde as Lokayukta

  Karnataka Governor Hans Raj Bharadwaj has thrown in another googly at the BJP government in the state. After first rejecting former Kerala High Court judge Justice Bannurmath's name for the post of Lokayukta in the state, Mr Bharadwaj has said he would approve of Santosh Hegde if the government were to re-appoint him as the Lokayukta.

The government had suggested that Justice Bannurmath be appointed as the Karnataka Lokayukta. The file was sent to Mr Bharadwaj for approval, who replied saying 'the state needs someone clean' after a section of the media reported that Justice Bannurmath too is allegedly involved in a land scam.

The Lokayukta post has been vacant for the past two months. The Governor's recommendation in the appointment of the Lokayukta, however, is not binding on the government.  

Mr Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge, retired from the post in August this year. His successor Justice Shivraj Patil quit office abruptly in September after allegations of involvement in a land scam.