Karnataka Lok Ayukta blames govt for pending graft cases

The Karnataka Lok Ayukta is giving final touches to its agenda for the upcoming years, which will be passed on to the department officials, said Lok Ayukta Shivaraj V Patil.

The anti-corruption watchdog is planning to work on the disposal of complaints pending before it for the past few years. “We went through the pending cases in the morning (Friday) and have decided to work on these cases,” Patil said.

There are 93 cases pending since 1993, with some of them resting with the Lok Ayukta court. Patil blamed the government, stating that the state did not give permission to go ahead with the cases further.

“We will write to the government to seek permission. Quality investigation will be carried out to dispose of the cases quickly,” said Patil.

‘Consult before you reinstate’
Patil said he would ask the government to revoke the system of consulting the Lok Ayukta before reinstating officials sacked on charges of corruption.

“There are incidents in which those suspended have been reinstated. In some cases, sacked officials have been either transferred or promoted,” the Lok Ayukta said.

A draft rule by department of personnel and administrative reforms and vigilance commission, stating that the government should consult the Lok Ayukta before reinstating sacked officials, was passed in 1979 but withdrawn in 1984.