Bengaluru, Aug 19 (DHNS): The process for removal of Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao began on Tuesday with the BJP launching a signature campaign to oust the anti-corruption watchdog.
The BJP plans to seek the signatures of Congress and JD(S) legislators as well, and submit the motion to the Legislative Assembly Speaker and the Council Chairman.
BJP MLAs Govind R Karjol, Lakshman Savadi, C T Ravi, and MLCs Ganesh Karnik and Lehar Singh signed in support at Vidhana Soudha here.
The party’s State president Pralhad Joshi told mediapersons Rao should have voluntarily resigned owning moral responsibility. “However, he has refused to do so. There is no hope that he will tender his resignation any time in the near future. The Lokayukta Act has been amended to enable his removal. Hence the signature campaign,” he said.
Joshi said all the MLAs and MLCs will be approached. Ravi and Savadi have been entrusted with the responsibility. Signatures of 75 MLAs and 25 MLCs is required to submit the motion.
The process will be completed within three to four days, and the motion will be submitted to the presiding officers after the BBMP polls.
The BJP will also seek JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy’s cooperation, he added.
“The entire process for the removal of the Lokayukta requires 90 days. Hence, we have initiated the process immediately,” he said.
Once the legislators submit the motion, the presiding officers may refer the matter to the Chief Justice of the High Court for conducting an investigation into the allegations.
The Chief Justice or a judge nominated by him would have to prepare a report and submit it to the Speaker and Chairman within three months.
If the Lokayukta is found guilty, then both Houses will have to pass the motion with two-thirds majority.
The motion will then be sent to the governor. If the governor gives his assent, then the ombudsman will be deemed to have been removed.
Reacting to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s statements attacking the BJP for indulging in rampant corruption in the BBMP, Joshi said the Congress government was the most corrupt government thus far, with betting and lottery rackets involving IPS and IAS officers being exposed.
Police stations in the State had become ‘hafta collection centres’, he alleged.