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Bring Justice Santosh Hegde back to office - protest M G statue, Saturday (26th June), 9 AM
Written By murali772 - 24 June, 2010
Bangalore governance Corruption accountability loksatta
Loksatta calls for a movement to bring Justice Santosh Hegde back to office: Organises protest at Mahatma Gandhi statue on Saturday (26th June) morning at 9 AM
The resignation of the Hon'ble Lokayukta Shri Santosh Hegde is a low point for governance in the state. His action, coming after many months of repeatedly urging the government to give his office more powers, and to take action against various offenders he has identified, is a blackmark against the political leadership of the BJP, as well as the Congress and JD(S), all of whom have paid only lip service to the Lokayukta's efforts. It is particularly unfortunate that the Government has failed to protect officials of the Lokayukta's office from motivated legal and other attacks.
Even at this late hour, the Government can take corrective action, and restore public confidence that the much-needed battle against corruption in public service will be taken up seriously. There are three steps the government needs to take seriously, and immediately.
- Empower the Lokayukta with the necessary suo moto powers to initiate action against those found prima facie guilty of offences.
- Decline to accept Justice Hegde's resignation, and urge him gracefully to once again take up the battle on behalf of the good citizens of this State.
- Allow him to carry out the functions of his office, with the necessary support in manpower to be effective in curtailing corruption.
Loksatta Party urges people to stand up for their right to corruption-free government, and protest the government inaction on and disregard for the Lokayukta's efforts. Earlier this year, the party had launched an "Empower Lokayukta" signature campaign. This has received the support of over 3,000 citizens of Karnataka and it continues to gain in strength. Click http://www.loksattakarnataka.org/cpg.htm to support this campaign.
Bangalore Police have denied permission to hold a protest rally either Thursday or Friday. Loksatta therefore calls citizens of Karnataka to assemble on Saturday morning at 9 am at Mahatma Gandhi Statue on MG Road, in a show of support to this important public office, and respect for Justice Hegde's work.
Muralidhar Rao
COMMENTS
Lok Satta to take fight against Corruption to Delhi: Dr JP
murali772 - 24 June, 2010 - 12:57
The Lok Satta Party will take the initiative to lead a delegation to the Prime Minister to demand a comprehensive amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Announcing this in a media statement, Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan said that monumental and growing corruption in India has made it the laughing stock in the comity of nations. India cannot accomplish its dream of becoming a super power by ignoring the omnipresent and omnipotent corruption.
The immediate provocation for the Lok Satta initiative is the resignation by Justice Santosh Hegde as Karnataka Lokaykta protesting against the Karnataka Government’s failure to honor its recommendations, reinstatement of officials suspended for corruption and harassment of Lokayukta employees for their role in ferreting out corruption.
Dr JP spoke to Justice Santosh Hegde to express his solidarity with him even as a Karnataka Lok Satta Party delegation was to call on the Karnataka Governor to protest against its hostile attitude towards the highly respected institution.
“The resignation of Justice Hegde, a valiant fighter against corruption, eloquently testifies to Karnataka Government’s moral bankruptcy,” said Dr. JP. He recalled that Karnataka had been more fortunate than other States in that eminent jurists like Justice Venkatachala earlier and Justice Santosh Hegde until now, both Justices of the Supreme Court, had occupied the Lokayukta position. The previous Congress Government and the present BJP Government made the institution toothless by denying it powers, resources, and personnel. The situation in other States including Andhra Pradesh is much worse, said Dr. JP.
It is tragic that both the Union and State Governments are allowing corruption to flourish at a time the U. S. Government has successfully bent the Swiss banking giant to reveal the names of American tax dodgers who stashed away their black money with it.
The Lok Satta-led delegation to the Prime Minister will seek an amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act providing for the creation of a Lokpal /Rashtriya Lokayukta headed by a jurist of the rank of a former Chief Justice of India. It should have jurisdiction over the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Bureau of Investigation and similar agencies and be armed with powers and resources to inquire into corruption indulged in by all Central Government officials and elected people’s representatives barring the President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister, the Lok Sabha Speaker, and the higher judiciary. Chief Ministers will, however, come under its purview.
The amendment will also provide for the creation of an empowered Lokayukta at the State level with jurisdiction over all anti corruption agencies including the Anti Corruption Bureau and the Vigilance Commission and authority to go into cases of corruption against all State Government employees and elected people’s representatives other than the Chief Minister.
Both the Lokpal /Rashtriya Lokayukta at the national level and the Lokayukta at the State level will have powers to order seizure and confiscation of ill-gotten wealth pending an inquiry.
Dr. JP said that Justice Santosh Hegde’s resignation should spur all right-thinking people to take corrective action before it is too late. Corruption further impoverishes the already poor people and hurts economic growth and investments. As a signatory to the International Convention against Corruption, India cannot hold its high so long as it adopts an amoral attitude to corruption.
kbsyed61 - 24 June, 2010 - 13:49
Justice Hegde's resignation is tragic indeed. Nothing can be more unfortunate than this i.e. corrupt politicians and babus have once again "CHECK-MATED" the people and their rule.
When parties depend upon generous money from looters and mafia's, they simply becomes one more party and whose sole objective is to win elections and earn more.
Means also needs to be noble to have the noble end. Illicit means will not produce noble ends.
Citizens set 100 days deadline to ‘Empower Lokayukta’
murali772 - 25 June, 2010 - 12:53
Dear friend,
Thank you for signing the Empower Lokayukta online petition.
As we all know, Hon. Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde who was carrying forward his work with sincerity and dedication has resigned from his post of Lokayukta. He has cited the lack of powers given to Lokayukta and the inaction against offenders as the reason for his resignation.
A delegation of Loksatta Karnataka visited him yesterday morning and appealed to him to take back his resignation. He has refused to do so saying that even if he does, it will make no difference since the institution of Lokayukta itself currently does not have enough powers to make a difference.
Justice Santosh Hegde is one of the brightest sons of Karnataka. We should not let his sacrifice go in vain. Loksatta Karnataka is therefore launching a campaign to urge the Karnataka government to effectively empower the Lokayukta in the next 100 days.
On behalf of all citizens of Karnataka, we are launching the ‘We want Empowered Lokayukta’ campaign tomorrow (Saturday) morning at 9 am at Mahatma Gandhi Statue at M.G.Road. Several groups are joining this protest inclusing Coalition Against Corruption (CAC)
In this campaign, every day one letter will be sent to the Chief Minister urging him to introduce the necessary Amendments to the Lokayukta Act in the Karnataka Assembly.
The first of these letters will be signed by a large number of citizens from various organisations and civil society groups that would assemble tomorrow morning.
We invite you to come for the event and spread the message of ‘Empower Lokayukta’ to all citizens of Karnataka.
sincerely, Loksatta Karnataka
Phone: 767 655 7788
http://loksattakarnataka.org/
idontspam - 4 July, 2010 - 02:29
This really puts the empowerment on the backburner now doesnt it?
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