Bengaluru, Jan 29 (DHNS): Justice P Vishwanath Shetty on Saturday took oath as the state's new Lokayukta. He was administered oath by Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhavan.

Justice Shetty, 72, who hails from Perody near Mangaluru in Dakshina Kannada, had served as a judge of the Karnataka High Court from 1995 to 2006. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Home Minister G Parameshwara, Law Minister T B Jayachandra and Water Resources Minister M B Patil were present during the swearing-in ceremony.

Justice Shetty was enrolled as an advocate on January 18, 1966 and worked as a junior advocate under then Advocate General of Karnataka Thumbe Krishna Rao till 1971. He set up independent practice in 1971 and formed Shetty & Hegde Associates. Justice Shetty was elevated as a permanent judge of the High Court of Karnataka in 1995 and served till his retirement on May 2, 2006. He has been practising as a senior advocate of the Supreme Court since July 2006.

“I appeared before the Supreme Court till last Thursday. The moment I came to know that the governor gave his consent to the state government's proposal, I stopped appearing before the Supreme Court and returned to Bengaluru. The only reason why I took up the responsibility is to give back something to society. It is not me, but we the officials at the institution of Lokayukta will work hard to redress people’s grievances,'' Justice Shetty said after assuming office.