Many want Lokayukta chair to be vacant – Justice Vishwanath Shetty

Many want Lokayukta chair to be vacant – Justice Vishwanath Shetty

Udupi: “Many want the Lokayuktha chair to be vacant”, said Lokayukta, Justice Vishwanath Shetty while speaking to media persons during his visit to the temple in Uppur here on February 4. His statement came after the media persons questioned him on the allegations of S R Hiremath. He said that allegations are made by many to keep the Lokayukta chair vacant.

The Governor under the constituent authority having 6 members has appointed me are accountable to the people, they have appointed me unanimously. They have equal responsibility towards the society, the high power committees appointment is the answer to the allegations leveled by S R Hiremath.

The other allegation is, “I have been the defense counsel to Janardhan Reddy and D K Shivkumar, the Supreme Court lawyers have no connection with the client, they are engaged by the client’s local lawyers. The fees paid by Janardhan Reddy and D K Shivkumar are in the form of a cheque which is accountable. I have no relation with Reddy and Shivkumar. I will not hear the petition of my clients in the Lokayukta court but will direct the same to others. Kapil Sibbal was the lawyer along with me in the D K Shivkumar’s case. I have appeared as a defense counsel to Sathyam and Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao. People have to decide whether they want an experienced judge and senior advocate as Lokayukta or a retired judge sitting at home”.

While questioned on the allegations on the land purchase he said, “I have a big house which means that I am a successful lawyer. The site granted to my wife was granted by Inam, deputy commission land, my wife is the third purchaser of the land. My sons and my wife have agricultural land. The land was purchased before I was selected as the judge. My sons are well settled they have a good income. He said that he has presented in the affidavit of having a house while he was allotted the site in the judicial colony”.

“I have vast experience of 52 years in the judiciary, and it will benefit me in the anti-graft agency Lokayukta. 2400 cases are pending in the Lokayukta court. Everyone has his own style of functioning, I will have a distinct style. I am a fully employed judged receiving hefty income which is accountable, I am here to give back to the society. You will have to wait to experience my functioning. The society has to play a vital role in supporting the anti-graft agency”, said Justice Vishwanath Shetty.

The priority will be enforcing effective vigil on the officials, the government has formulated various social security schemes and it has to reach the people. Every department will be monitored.

Any tip-off on the irregularities will be effectively addressed.

You can directly contact me on my phone number 09968293322 and the best action will be taken at the behest of the people. The Lokayukta wing is effectively functioning, the public can contact them.

Lokayukta is still independent and effective, ACB has not destroyed it. It depends on the agency to show its effectiveness, while it comes to registering a complaint ACB has been given powers. Absolute power corrupts absolutely when it comes to the Lokayukta if it directs ACB, it has to respond and function. Lokayukta has, even more, power than the chief minister. There is no point in blaming everyone, the departments in the government should function with coordination, he added.