From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 21: While the post of the Karnataka Lokayukta has remained vacant for almost a year now, the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission (KSHRC) too has become headless since the last two months.

The Karnataka High Court has already directed the State Government to hasten to take immediate steps to fill the vacant post of Lokayukta instead of waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision on its petition seeking clarification on the kind and scope of consultations required with regard to the appointment of Upa Lokayukta.

The Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar convened a meeting of the Congress opposition leaders in the Assembly Siddaramaiah and Council S R Patil along with Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah and the Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy for taking a decision on the selection of the KSHRC chief.

The Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, who is also the minister in charge of Home and Transport Departments, also attended the consultation meeting, which remained inclusive. Another meeting to finalise the names will be held on August 30.

It may be recalled that the KSHRC Chariman S R Nayak relinquished his office on July 25 following completion of his five-year term,and member R C Reddi completed his term on July 27. The Government is yet to appoint the second member following the retirement of Parthasarathy on March 2.

The commission has a Chairman and two members.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Siddaramaiah said there was no consensual candidate for the post of chairman and two members.

Names of N K Sodhi, former chief justice of Karnataka High Court, R V Ravindran, former judged, Supreme Court, and S R Bannurmath, former former Kerala High Court Chief Justice are doing rounds for the post of chairman of the commission.