Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Dec 10: The state government told the state high court on Wednesday December 9 that a person of the district judge cadre would be appointed as Lokayukta registrar within two weeks. This assurance was given by the government to the division bench of the state high court comprising acting chief justice of the high court, S K Mukherjee, and Justice B Manohar.

Additional advocate general of the state, A S Ponnanna, who appeared on behalf of the state government before the bench on Wednesday, said that the advocate general already had held discussions with the state chief minister and law minister about appointing a registrar to Lokayukta institution. He gave oral assurance that a registrar conforming to the norms meant for district judge's cadre would be appointed to the above post within two weeks.

Questioning the appointment of P C Jaffer, an IAS officer, to the post of the Lokayukta registrar, an advocate, Anandamurty, had questioned the government's October 6 order, through public interest litigation. He had argued that people with judicial background alone should be appointed as Lokayukta registrar, as most of the complaints being filed with Lokayukta pertain to allegations against politicians, KAS, and KAS officers. He had sought cancellation of Jaffer's appointment to the post.

The bench, during its hearing in the past, had stayed the order of the government appointing Jaffer as Lokayukta registrar.