Bangalore: Justice Kuranga to be New Lokayukta?

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 11: Ever since Justice Shivraj Patil resigned as the Karnataka Lokayukta, several names have been doing the rounds to take over the mantle, but the coveted post remains vacant.

Justice S R Bannurmath's name had been recommended by the government, and media reports suggested that he was almost certain to be appointed, but the governor is said to have dismissed his name over some allegations over illegal land allotments. However, the governor later said that he had not rejected his nomination but only asked the government to recommend another name.

Now, a new name has cropped up, that of Justice Koratagere Hanumanthaiah Narasimha Kuranga, former chief justice of Chhattishgarh high court.

Sources told daijiworld that the government has recommended Justice Kuranga's name to the governor. A meeting was held between chief minister Sadananda Gowda and governor H R Bhardwaj on Thursday November 10 at Raj Bhavan to discuss the issue.

Justice Kuranga was born in Koratagere in Tumkur on May 11, 1942 to a dalit family. If appointed, he will be the first dalit SC judge to hold the prestigious Lokayukta post.

He pursued his eductation at St Joseph College and then completed his BA from Mysore University. He did his LLB from Bangalore University in 1967, after which he practiced and served as legal advisor to Bangalore city corporation.

He also served as the government counsel at the high court, after which he was appointed the state public prosecutor, and later, judge of high court.

In 2002, he became the chief justice of Chhattisgarh high court and retired in 2004. He has also served as the chancellor of Hidhayutulla National Law School, now National Law University of Chhattisgarh.

Justice Kuranga is said to have a clean image without any controversy denting his career.