Bangalore: CM promises special Courts to Try Graft Cases- Lokayukta says they Exist
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bangalore, Sept 16: Did Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa bite more than he could chew? Well, it appears so going by his announcement in the state legislative council on setting up special courts to try cases booked by Lokyaukta in connection with corruption charges and Lokayukta Justice N Santhosh Hegde’s statement that special courts already exist.

Intervening during the debate on rural development in the upper house on Wednesday, Yeddyurappa declared that the Government would forward a proposal in this regard to the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice immediately.

Establishing such courts would help expedite the Lokayukta probe into cases of corruption, he asserted.

But contrary to the grandiose announcement by the chief minister and to his virtual mortification, Justice Hegde told reporters who met him that ``there were three special courts in the State which exclusively deal with cases of corruption booked by the Lokayukta police,’’ and mentioned that they were located in Bangalore, Mysore and Belgaum.

"I do not know what he is referring to,’’ Justice Hegde said when asked about the chief minister’s announcement to set up special courts.

"The demand for special courts was a part of recommendations made by me to the State Government in 2006. A lot of water has flown since then. But I appreciate his (Yeddyurappa’s) concern for speedy disposal of corruption cases,’’ the Lokayukta observed.

The Lokayukta said the courts in Mysore and Belgaum were set up by the High Court following the request by the government for their institution in 2008.

"We asked for High Court to provide courts in these areas as the pendency here was more than 100. The High Court accepted our request and passed order,’’ he said pointing out that these special courts give preference for the Lokayukta cases and then deal with other cases.

Meanwhile, in the council, JD(S) leader M C Nanaiah appreciated the chief minister’s announcement in the house on setting up special courts to try corruption cases and said such an initiative was welcome.

But the fight against corruption will not get teeth till the Lokayukta gets suo motu powers to undertake investigation against corrupt officials and the power to prosecute the guilty. These two powers should precede the move to set up special courts, he felt.

Nanaiah reminded the chief minister his announcement in the council in July itself on granting suo motu powers to Lokayukta after discussing the issue in the state Cabinet and wondered why the government was yet to act.

Responding to this, the chief minister said the decision to set up special courts was a first step regarding empowering the Lokayukta. He sought time for taking a decision on empowering the Lokayukta while stating that he was trying to take everybody into confidence.

The JD(S) leader taunted the chief minister for seeking time to make a decision when only a few days ago he was given ``Fastest Mover Award’’ in Delhi by a magazine for swift responses.

"You should not be slow in taking decisions after getting the fastest mover award,’’ he remarked and urged the chief minister to demonstrate that he deserved the award conferred on him.

The chief minister, however, said he had already written to the chief secretary to take steps to provide compulsory retirement to inefficient and corrupt officials.