Moily recommends more autonomy for Lokayukta

Law Minister said the govt was contemplating vesting the anti-corruption watchdog with Constitutional powers.

Amid the controversy surrounding the resignation of Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde,Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Friday said the government was contemplating vesting the anti-corruption watchdog with Constitutional powers.

“Lokayukta cannot function on the whims and fancies of any state government and should function as an autonomous body,” Moily told reporters here.

Moily said the institution of Lokayukta was established to root out corruption in the country and “now there is a need to strengthen the Lokayukta by giving it more powers”.

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“In this direction,I have recommended more autonomy for Lokayukta in my second Administrative Reforms Commission report,” Moily,who headed the Commission,said.

Moily’s remarks come against the backdrop of the resignation of Hegde,who not only deplored the “indifference” of the BJP government in the state towards fighting corruption but also expressed displeasure over the Lokayukta not being given suo motu powers.

Hegde’s resignation,coming into effect from August 31,had put the BJP government on the backfoot and created a political furore in Karnataka.

The Lokayukta has remained firm on not reconsidering his decision to resign despite the BJP going into a damage-control mode by requesting him to retrace his step.

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