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Taking steps to strengthen Lokayukta, says law minister
He said the government will study which cases that were earlier with the ACB to be handed over to the Lokayukta. The ACB comes directly under the chief minister.
The state government has directed the department of personnel and administrative reforms (DPAR) to provide required staff and facilities to the anti-corruption watchdog Lokayukta, law minister JC Madhuswamy said here on Thursday.
The development comes nearly a fortnight after the Karnataka high court abolished the anti-corruption bureau (ACB), created in 2016 by the then Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, that had taken away much of Lokayukta’s powers. The court has also ordered the government to transfer all cases with the ACB to the Lokayukta.
Madhuswamy, while briefing the media after Thursday’s state cabinet meeting, said the government was committed to strengthen the Lokayukta.
He said the government will study which cases that were earlier with the ACB to be handed over to the Lokayukta. The ACB comes directly under the chief minister.
“We have taken a decision to strengthen the Lokayukta in a phase-wise manner. For now, the Lokayukta has asked for accounts and prosecution and we have provided it. We have given directions to the (DPAR) department to cater to all their requirements. There should be no feeling that we have not given them staff or other requirements and are weakening the Lokayukta,” Madhuswamy said.
The HC order stated: “It is nothing but transgression by an executive administrative order to usurp the powers of the Lokayukta. The very constitution of ACB by the government is to shield the corrupt politicians, ministers, and the officers from the watchful eyes of the Lokayukta and that government is weakening the institution of the Lokayukta to protect these persons from prosecution, inter alia under the provisions of the PC (prevention of corruption) Act.”
In its recommendation, the HC said police wing of the Lokayukta should be strengthened by appointing and deputing honest persons with a track record of integrity and fairness, all those working in the ACB be transferred or deputed to the Lokayukta.
Madhuswamy said: “We are studying in detail what the court has said and what to do with the cases. The HC has given certain directions.” He said there have been no new cases under the ACB and that soon all cases can be registered under the Lokayukta.
The minister said there would be no amendment required for strengthening the Lokayukta and that the HC had already abolished the ACB.
A few days ago, a private individual had approached the Supreme Court over the abolishing of the ACB, which Madhuswamy said did not concern the government as it had decided not to appeal against the HC order. He said it was in the manifesto of the BJP to abolish the ACB and that it will act accordingly.
Since 2016, there have been accusations that successive governments started chipping off powers from the Lokayukta and passing it on to the ACB that was criticised by activists and even the BJP, who were in the opposition at the time. The BJP, in its 2018 election manifesto, had stated that it would abolish the ACB and give full powers to the Lokayukta within 24 hours of coming to power.
