K’taka govt action extra-ordinary, says Hegde
Bangalore: Former Karnataka Lokayukta
Justice Santosh Hegde on Friday dismissed as "extra-ordinary and
absolutely frivolous" the grounds on which the BJP government
decided to seek reconsideration of his report on illegal
mining as the head of the anti-corruption watchdog.
Speaking to reporters here, Hegde, a former Supreme Court
judge, saw the Government move as one aimed at "delaying" (the
implementation).
"The reasons given by the government are rather
extraordinary", he said, adding they are "absolutely
frivolous" and appeared to be "layman's excuses".
The state cabinet had yesterday decided to seek the views
of the (yet-to-be-named) Lokayukta whether the July 27 report
submitted by Hegde as the then Lokayukta is in compliance with
law, particularly with reference to principles of natural
justice.
The BJP government's contention is that the then Chief
Minister BS Yeddyurappa and the then Ministers and mining
magnates from Bellary -- G Janardhan Reddy, G Karunakara Reddy
and B Sriramulu, who have been indicted in Hegde's findings,
were not heard before the report was prepared.
Yeddyurappa resigned in the wake of his indictment.
Hegde asked why the government did not reject his report
if it indeed violated constitutional provisions and principles
of natural justice.
The reasons cited by the government gave an impression
that he does not know law, applied law unfairly and he had
malice towards the government. "If they reject, (public)
reaction will be different. That's why they are delaying".