BANGALURU: Lokayukta Registrar M S Balakrishna (in-charge) has written to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) seeking extension of his term as Additional Registrar of Enquiries-II for two years in the absence of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta.
Sources in the Lokayukta told Express that ARE-II Balakrishna’s term expires on December 31 this year and hence he wrote to the DPAR two days ago.
A judicial officer in the Lokayukta said that Balakrishna’s name had also been recommended to the government for appointment as the Registrar, after H R Deshpande’s resignation over the destruction of CCTV footage that was major evidence to prove extortion and corruption in the Lokayukta. After Deshpande’s exit, Balakrishna has been handling the post of Registrar too.
Meanwhile, the High Court had also recommended Principal and District Sessions Judge Gunaki Narendra Kumar Basavaraj’s name for the post of Registrar. Pending this recommendation, the state government deputed IAS Officer P C Jaffer as Registrar of Lokayukta on August 25, breaking the precedent of appointing a judicial officer to the post.
An advocate challenged this in the High Court, seeking directions that a judicial officer be appointed as Registrar, a crucial post. The government revoked the deputation of Jaffer and promised the High Court that it would appoint a judicial officer. Before this, Narendra Kumar Basavaraj retired on September 30. As of now, there is no clarity on the appointment of a Registrar.
Balakrishna confirmed that he had written to DPAR, after a committee in okayukta recommended that he do so.
Ananda’s First Day in office
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