Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 9: It is reliably learnt that the state governor, Vajubhai Vala, has sought certain clarifications on the recommendation made by the government to appoint Justice S R Nayak as the state Lokayukta.

The governor, it is gathered, has asked the chief secretary of the government to obtain opinion from the legal department on the objections received against the government's move to make Justice Nayak the next Lokayukta of Karnataka. It may be recalled that a NGO, Janadhikara Sangharsha Parishat, had followed up its earlier complaint with the Lokayukta, which is yet to be investigated, by representing to the governor against making Justice Nayak the next Lokayukta, stating that he had violated rules relating to allocation of sites by obtaining two sites, and not declaring all the assets owned by him in his declaration.

At the same time, it is said that the chief justice of the high court had sent a letter to the state government with a copy to the governor, giving his opinion that those who have already chaired Human Rights Commission cannot be made head of Lokayukta institution. While the governor is said to have sought clarification on these points, sources in the government feigned ignorance about the move.

As such, Karnataka may have to wait to get the next Lokayukta, it is said. After collecting legal opinion, the governor may either accept the opinion or ask the government to suggest another name, sources say.

At the meeting convened to finalize the choice of Lokayukta to be recommended to the governor, opposition leaders, Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa, chairman of the legislative council. D H Shankaramurty, and also high court chief justice had opposed the choice of Justice Nayak. Chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and assembly speaker, Kagodu Timmappa, had proposed his name. Finally, at the discretion of the chief minister, the name of Justice S R Nayak was finalized and recommendation was made to the governor accordingly.