Bangalore: 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.
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.
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 Bannurmath and to select
someone else. 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 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.
Patil had taken over in early August from Hegde, who
completed his five-year term.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, November 23, 2011, 16:59