Kochi: Former Karnataka Lokayukta Justice N
Santosh Hegde on Wednesday suggested that corporates and NGOs should
also be brought under the purview of the Jan Lokpal bill.
"They should be incorporated. I am for it," he told
reporters when asked about corporates and NGOs not being under
the ambit of the bill drafted by Team Anna, adding he would
suggest for bring them under the ombudsman.
Describing himself as a freelancer now, the former
Supreme Court judge said the bill was "very strong", but not
"monstrous" as was being projected. It was deliberately being
projected as "not answerable" to anyone.
Pointing out that the corruption watchdog is answerable
to the Supreme Court at every level, he said every decision
can be challenged before the court.
He hoped that the bill would be tabled in the Winter
session of Parliament. "The institution called Lokpal will be
constituted. It would not have been constituted if not for
Anna Hazare," he said.
There are enough laws in the country to tackle corruption
but they were not being implemented. There was misapprehension
among people that the Prime Minister does not come under the
Prevention of Corruption Act and every public servant can be
probed by investigating agencies, he said.
As far as the prime minister is concerned, the CBI or the
Delhi Police should take up investigation, but they are not
doing it, he said.
In the case of judiciary, permission has to be taken from
the Chief Justice of India to launch a probe against a sitting
judge.
On allegations of corruption against relatives of former
CJI and National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Justice K G
Balakrishnan, Hegde said, "If there is material, he should be
investigated."
On his report on illegal mining in Karnataka, he said it
was up to the state government to take action on the report.
"I have named over 700 officers in the report besides
ministers, politicians and business houses. Former Karnataka
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had to resign, two former chief
ministers were indicted."
Hegde said nobody had offered him the post of Goa
Lokayukta.
"I was not offered the post. This is the post of a high
court judge and the age limit is 70 and I have crossed 72," he
said.
Replying to another query, he said if each state makes a
Lokpal bill which is as strong as Karnataka Lokayukta, lot of
corruption can be contained.
Earlier, addressing students at the Cochin University of
Science and Technology, Hegde said he was visiting educational
institutions across the country interacting with students and
had so far visited over 300 institutions.
During the next elections, when politicians come calling
for votes, they should be told that they are not
representatives but `public servants`, he said.
Hegde was presented the `Neethi Ratna` award by Assembly
Speaker G Karthikeyan at a function here.
PTI
