BENGALURU: Lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao has approached Governor Vajubai Vala seeking a direction to the state government to act against 48 officers, including some top bureaucrats.
The government has so far not acted on the anti-corruption agency’s recommendation against the officers, Justice Rao said.
Addressing a press conference at his office here on Tuesday, Justice Rao refused to reveal the names of the officers. He, however, mentioned that former Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner Ramanjaneya was one among the 48 found guilty by the Lokayukta.
“I will provide a list of those officials in the next press conference,” he said when asked about the full list of officers sent to Raj Bhavan.
“A special report on 48 officials was sent to Governor Vajubai Vala under provisions of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, as the government did not act against them despite his recommendations. The Governor will direct the government to place the same before the Assembly,” Justice Rao said,
Justice Rao also said the Lokayukta is awaiting sanction from the state government to prosecute 88 officials. Of these, 25 cases have been pending for more than a year, he said.
No Pending Approvals: CM
In a recent interview to Express, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had categorically said the government has given approval for prosecution of all officials as sought by the Lokayukta. “There are no pending approvals. We have given permission for whatever they have asked for,” he had said.
Reacting to this, Justice Rao said, “I have given the full list to the government. I do not know why the CM said so.”
Staff Shortage
Justice Rao said shortage staff is hampering investigations. As many as four posts of judicial officers, eight office superintendents, 26 first division assistants, 19 second division assistants and 34 clerical staff are lying vacant.
He said he has disposed of as many as 6,836 complaints after assuming charge two years ago. While 4,568 complaints were pending before he took charge, 3,198 complaints were received from February 14, 2013 to April 30, 2015, he said.
“Most of the cases were disposed of as there was no sufficient evidence. As on April 30, 2015, 930 complaints are pending,” he said.
Justice Rao said he had recommended competent authorities to take action against errant officials under Section 12 (3) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act in 120 cases.
Further, the authorities were told to provide remedy to complainants within a certain timeframe in 35 cases under Section 12(1), he added.
In departmental enquiries, charges were proved in 13 cases for which punishment was recommended for the accused while enquiry is pending in 101 cases, he said. “I visited all 28 districts by April 30, 2014 and received complaints,” he added.
Lokayukta Joint Commissioner Syed Riyaz was present at the conference.