Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 20: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the state High Court, seeking to quash the appointment of Justice S B Majage as the state Upa Lokayukta. Justice Majage had taken over charge as the Upa Lokayukta on Monday July 19.

In the PIL, a person named R L N Murty, who is a city-based advocate, has claimed that Justice Majage’s appointment to the post is illegal as it violates Karnataka Administrative Tribunal Act 1985. The division bench of the High Court comprising Justice N K Patil and Justice A S Bopanna, which took up the petition, said that the same would be heard on Wednesday July 21.

The main contention of the litigant is that a person, who has already worked in an administrative tribunal, is barred from being appointed to any other post of the government. He has pointed out that Justice Majage has functioned as the vice president of Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) from 2005 to 2008. As per section 11(e) of the act, a member, president or vice president of KAT is barred from being chosen for government appointments. Further, section 3 (2)(b) of Karnataka Lokayukta Act 1984 prescribes that only High Court judges can be appointed as the Upa Lokayuktas. As such, Justice Majage is not eligible to hold this post, the petitioner has contended in his petition.