Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)
Udupi, Dec 21: Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde, who participated in a function organized for laying the foundation stone for the new building proposed to be built for the district Lokayukta here on Sunday December 20, sought more powers for the Lokayukta, to be able to function more affectively. State home minister, Dr V S Acharya, who was also a participant at the programme, said that this is in tune with the government’s line of thinking.
The building, being built by public works department, is scheduled to be completed by May next year. This district is the second after Bijapur, to have a separate building for the functioning of the Lokayukta.
“The function of the Lokayukta is not limited to regulating corruption. One of the aims of the system is to ensure that the fuits of good governance reaches the people it is meant for. For this to happen, the Lokaykta needs to be fortified with more powers,” Hegde pleaded. He said, that the Lokayukta could process only 12,000 complaints out of the 20,000 it received during the last year. “The number officials we booked went up to 300 this year, as against 279 last year. Being an autonomous body, Lokayukta may not be able to mitigate some of the problems referred to it, which is not because of its own faults. Some of the problems can not be tackled by the Lokayukta because it has not been delegated with proper powers for the same. The Lokayukta needs more powers and basic infrastructure support, to be able to work more efficiently, and the government has to positively look into these needs," Hegde insisted.
Hegde thanked the government for sanctioning Rs 45 lacs for the construction of the new Lokayukta building.
Dr V S Acharya, who laid the foundation stone, said that corruption-free society is the goal of the government, as smooth administration and development can not be achieved, if corruption plays a role. He said that the government has been taking steps to address issues the Lokayukta has referred in his report. "Whenever good officers have been sought for, we have provided them to the Lokayukta, and the government has been responding to the needs of the Lokayukta," he claimed. He revealed that the Chief Minister has given his in-principle nod for the Mini Vidhansoudha proposed to be built in the town.
Deputy Lokayukta, Justice G Patri Basavanagouda, extended his best wishes. MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, presided, Zilla panchayat president, Gladys D'Almeida and Lokayukta additional director general of police, Roopak Kumar Dutta were present.
Lokayukta registrar, Musa Kunhi Nairmoole, welcomed. Yogish Kumar Jeppu presented the programme.