BELAGAVI: Legislative Council Chairman DH Shankarmurthy's decision to allow debate on Opposition BJP-JDS notice on the motion to remove Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao led to heated arguments.
The ruling Congress opposed the Chair's decision saying that a motion cannot be allowed based on iferences as mentioned by the opposition in their notice.
''Since there is no evidence against the Lokayukta. The motion shouldn't be allowed,'' SR Patil, IT Minister and Leader of the House said.
Not withstanding the argument of the Treasury members, Shankarmurthy allowed preliminary debate on the motion.
The Chairman, however, said that the Lokayukta Act 1984 says that a Lokaykta could be removed as per Judges Inquiry Act 1968 with necessary changes without losing the spirit of the Act.
A notice signed by 15 members , that 15 members of the 75 member Council. ''I will discuss with the Advocate General, seek his opinion and take a decision,'' the Chairman said.
BJP MLC G Madhusudhan argued that the Chairman needn't consult Advocate General. Shankarmurthy said that he can consult but he was free to take views of others, but their advise wasn't binding on him.
''I can take a decision on my own volition,'' he said.
Law Minister TBJayachandra and Congress MLC V Ugrappa urged the Chair and consult AG and insisted that debate was not required at this juncture.
Shankarmurthy said he would consult the AG and take a final call.