Wait for a new Lokayukta gets longer

There is no hope of Karnataka getting a new Lokayukta in the near future as the state government has decided to move the Supreme Court against the recent high court order which set guidelines for the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta.

Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Friday said he would take up the process of appointing Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta only after seeking clarification from the Supreme Court, despite the high court directing the state government to expeditiously start a fresh selection process for appointing Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta as per the Lokayukta Act.

“The high court bench had given guidelines for the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta under Section 3 (2)(6) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984. We are going to seek clarification from the Supreme Court regarding the guidelines and then move ahead with the appointments,” Gowda said.
When asked about the time frame, CM Gowda said the process will be taken up “as early as possible”.

The state government feels that the guidelines give supreme power to the Chief Justice of the high court in the selection of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta. The guidelines also minimise the role of the government in the appointment process.