THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It looks like anything that the government does with respect to the Lokayukta institution goes wrong. The latest in the row is the appointment of Justice Chandrashekaraiah as Upa Lokayukta, which has irked High Court Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen. Justice Sen has written a letter to Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, urging the former to recall Justice Chandrashekaraiah.
In a strong letter, Sen has registered his dissent over the manner in which the second Upa Lokayukta, Justice Chandrashekaraiah was appointed. Sources in the government said that the CJ in his letter to the CM, expressed dissent saying that he was not consulted while appointing Chandrashekaraiah. The CJ noted that as per section 3(2)(A) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, he should have been consulted.
Meanwhile, sources in the BJP say that the CM is under pressure to persuade Justice Chandrashekaraiah to step down. It is said that the appointment has not gone down well with former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa too as the latter perceives the present Upa Lokayukta as JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda’s man. But Justice Chandrashekaraiah on his part has made it clear that he would not step down. “I have not done any wrong to quit. The controversy is between the government and the chief justice. Let them sort it out,’’ the Upa Lokayukta said.