Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 5: In an important development, the state government has expressed willingness to settle dispute over the ouster of state Upa Lokayukta, Justice Subhash B Adi, amicably. This is seen as stepping back from the earlier resolve to ensure that Justice Adi is forced to step down.

When the appeal filed by Justice Adi questioning the steps taken by the assembly speaker against him came up for hearing on Monday April 4 before a bench of senior Justice N Kumar and Justice B Veerappa, advocate general, M R Nayak, who appeared on behalf of the government, said that the government would be seeking some time with the inquiry commission when the issue comes up for hearing on Tuesday. He said that the government is examining the possibilities of settling the issue out of court, without giving further details. It may be recalled that the chief justice had entrusted the work of looking into irregularities Justice Adi has been charged with, to Justice R B Budihal, at the request of the assembly speaker.

The bench, at his request, adjourned hearing of the petition, in which Justice Adi has sought a stay on all the processes taken against him since the speaker wrote to the chief justice to form an investigation committee against him, to next week.

Justice Adi had earlier expressed his willingness to resign in case the government drops it proposed action against him, as he is not willing to earn the tag of being an accused.