BANGALORE: After insisting on its choice of former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S R Bannurmath as Lokayukta for some three months, Karnataka government has come forward to suggest another name for the key post on which it was on a collision course with Governor H R Bhardwaj.
The government has promised to suggest a name, Bhardwaj told reporters at Raj Bhavan after Justice (Retd) Chandrashekaraiah was sworn in second Upa Lokayukta. "I am expecting the matter to be resolved in seven to ten days".
Chief Minister (D V Sadananda Gowda) is cooperative, he said. "Things have started moving in the right direction", Bhardwaj said, adding, if the Government proposed a new name after due consultations, he would clear it in "half-hour".
The BJP government recommended Bannurmath for the post on October 27 last to fill the vacancy caused by resignation of retired Supreme Court Shivaraj Patil over a land allotment controversy, and repeatedly sought to push its case.
Bhardwaj has refused to accept Bannurmath's name citing reports in a section of press about similar charge but later had also spoken about Supreme Court observations against him, without elaborating.
Asked about Bannurmath's name, the Governor said today: "That is out of question". He added: "The (allotment of) site is not the issue at all. I cannot tell you what's the matter (against Bannurmath). I want to protect his dignity".
The Governor also had a dig at the Government. "....they (the government) are browbeating the institution of Lokayukta.
And want to finish it".
Describing former Lokayukta Justice (retd) N Santosh Hegde as his "parameter for good work", Bhardwaj said the formers report on illegal mining should have been given "respect" but "some vested interests" were not willing to implement it.