Bangalore: After insisting on its choice of
former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S R Bannurmath as
Lokayukta for some three months, Karnataka government has come
forward to suggest another name for the key post on which it
was on a collision course with Governor HR Bhardwaj.
The government has promised to suggest a name, Bhardwaj
told reporters at Raj Bhavan after Justice (Retd)
Chandrashekaraiah was sworn in second Upa Lokayukta. "I am
expecting the matter to be resolved in seven to ten days".
Chief Minister (DV Sadananda Gowda) is cooperative, he
said. "Things have started moving in the right direction",
Bhardwaj said, adding, if the Government proposed a new name
after due consultations, he would clear it in "half-hour".
The BJP government recommended Bannurmath for the post on
October 27 last to fill the vacancy caused by resignation of
retired Supreme Court Shivaraj Patil over a land allotment
controversy, and repeatedly sought to push its case.
Bhardwaj has refused to accept Bannurmath's name citing
reports in a section of press about similar charge but later
had also spoken about Supreme Court observations against him,
without elaborating.
Asked about Bannurmath's name, the Governor said today:
"That is out of question". He added: "The (allotment of) site
is not the issue at all. I cannot tell you what's the matter
(against Bannurmath). I want to protect his dignity".
The Governor also had a dig at the Government. "....they
(the government) are browbeating the institution of Lokayukta.
And want to finish it".
Describing former Lokayukta Justice (retd) N Santosh
Hegde as his "parameter for good work", Bhardwaj said the
formers report on illegal mining should have been given
"respect" but "some vested interests" were not willing to
implement it.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, January 22, 2012, 17:06