Justice (retd) Y Bhaskar Rao sworn in as new Lokayukta

February 14, 2013

Bangalore, Feb 14: Justice (retd) Y Bhaskar Rao was today sworn in as the Karnataka Lokayukta, a post which had been lying vacant since September 2011.

The 75 year-old Rao, who served as the former Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, was administered the oath of office by Governor H R Bhardwaj in a ceremonial function at the Raj Bhavan.

Rao succeeds Justice (retd) Shivaraj V Patil who resigned from the post of Lokayukta in September 2011 following an allegation about illegal possession of a government site.

The post of Lokayukta had been lying vacant since then. Rao had also served as a member of the National Human Rights Commission.

The retired judge refused to comment on a reporter's query about allegations of irregularities levelled against him recently by Advocates Association of Bangalore (AAB).

To a question whether he would expedite cases and had a roadmap before him, Rao said "you'll see in course of time".

On whether he would make his assets public, he shot back "everything will be public. We will put it up on the website". Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the function, Bhardwaj said "I am happy, the initiative has been taken. He was the CJ here. He knows the language".

To another question, the Governor said "nowadays people don't even leave God. I haven't received any allegation. There were other reasons why I rejected him earlier. Let's see how he performs. I want every institution to perform well here".

Earlier post

Justice Bhaskar Rao is new Lokayukta

Bangalore, Feb 14: The State government on Wednesday cleared the decks for the appointment of Justice Yarabati Bhaskar Rao as the new Lokayukta of Karnataka.

The post had been lying vacant since September 2011, after the then new incumbent, Justice Shivaraj Patil, resigned following allegations of false declaration while obtaining a housing site. The 74-year-old former chief justice will be sworn into office at the Raj Bhavan by Governor H R Bharadwaj on Thursday morning.

Bhaskar Rao's choice was cleared by a panel comprising Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, acting Chief Justice of the High Court K Sreedhar Rao, Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankarmurthy, Legislative Assembly Speaker K?G Bopaiah and Leaders of the Opposition in the two Houses Siddaramaiah and S R Patil. According to government sources, Justice Rao's name won majority approval.

Justice Rao was acting Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court for three months in 1999 and later served as Chief Justice from March 9, 2000 to June 26, 2000. After retirement, he was appointed Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission and later became a member of the National Human Rights Commission. He was a judge of Andhra Pradesh High Court.

He hails from Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.

The Advocates?Association of Bangalore (AAB), which opposed Rao's choice, has decided to move the Supreme Court, Association Secretary A?P Ranganath said.

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Lokayukta team arrives at disputed plot; CM likely to get ED summons

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru, Oct 1: The Karnataka Lokayukta team on Tuesday arrived at the disputed plot in Mysuru and began investigation into the MUDA case against CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, news agency ANI reported. Snehamayi Krishna, the complainant in the case was also present with the team.

Sources stated that ED sleuths might issue a notice to CM Siddaramaiah at any time and issue summons to him for questioning. The sleuths are also keenly watching the movements of CM Siddaramaiah’s close associates and relatives, including a cabinet minister in connection with the MUDA scam.

Sources further said that there is a possibility of the ED conducting raids across the state on offices and residences of close associates of CM Siddaramaiah. The ED has also gathered information on bank accounts and financial transactions of CM Siddaramaiah and his associates.

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) on Monday registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), equivalent to an FIR by the police, against CM Siddaramaiah over the alleged irregularities in the allotment of 14 sites to his wife Parvathi B.M. by the Mysore Urban Development Authority. The ED registered the case taking cognisance of the FIR registered against the Chief Minister by the Lokayukta police on September 27.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Lokayukta probing the MUDA case has also expedited the probe. The sleuths led by Mysuru Lokayukta SP T.J. Udesh have visited the controversial land on the outskirts of Mysuru city. The petitioner, Snehamayi Krishna, also accompanied the team.

The move of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s wife to return 14 sites allotted by the MUDA to her has triggered a debate. BJP MLA from Mysuru T.S. Srivatsa stated on Tuesday that the move of CM’s wife is not acceptable. "The two commissioners who colluded in the MUDA scam are roaming freely even today," he said.

"CM Siddaramaiah first claimed that there was no scam at all. Later, he formed a commission and now there is an FIR against him. After committing the mistake, you offer to return the sale deed. The time is up. He will have to tender his resignation and I am sure he won’t be in the position until Dasara festivities," MLA T.S. Srivatsa stated.

T.J. Abraham, one of the petitioners in the MUDA case said, “I had demanded the MUDA commissioner to take back the allotted sites. He had written back saying the process would be initiated. They were waiting for the investigation report."

"CM Siddaramaiah has not approached the division bench or the Supreme Court to challenge the order against him because there is nothing to be challenged. Returning sites is not a big sacrifice. The Chief Minister has lost it," Abraham stated.

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