Lokayukta has become a nightmare for the honest too

by Suresh Kumar, Former law minister and BJP leader
To say the premier institution of the Lokayukta is passing through a bad phase will be an understatement. The institution is in the news for all the wrong reasons, and it's unfortunate that the needle of suspicion is pointing towards the top.
The Lokayukta, formed in 1984-85, had earned its own niche.Late Ramakrishna Hegde and his team had come out with this Act as advised by the Administrative Reforms Committee. Many a time, our Act was referred to as a model Act. It is sad that this institution, formed to control administrative corruption and impropriety, is being accused of indulging in the same acts.
The Lokayukta's very name was a nightmare to the corrupt. Ironically, it has become a nightmare even for conscientious officers today. I am in the know of a particular case, where the head of a state government undertaking was summoned to the official residence of the Lokayukta and introduced to a person who claimed to be the Lokayukta's son. The officer was `gently informed' there were serious complaints against him, and it was better to settle the issue then and there. This officer was summoned again to a star hotel and pressured. It is another matter that this officer, who was confident of his deeds, expressed his inability to pay. If this is not blackmail, what is? I know of another incident where an officer who failed to oblige had to face imprisonment. These incidents have sent out very wrong messages.
This is very disconcerting. The Karnataka Bar Council has passed a resolution demanding the Lokayukta's resignation. They have threatened to boycott all his programmes and also hold demonstrations. These will further damage the reputation of the already beleaguered institution where the Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta are in conflict.
The government should have gone in for a CBI inquiry, as the Lokayukta himself asked the government to get issues investigated by an "independent, autonomous agency". The Special Investigation Team is not adequate. Even former Lokayukta Justice Santosh N Hegde has urged for a CBI inquiry. The Lokayukta is looking into cases where a few police officers are involved, so the inquiry, howsoever impartial, will be looked at with suspicion.
The basic responsibility of both the Lokayukta and government is to save the image of this great institution from getting tarnished further. If salt loses its taste, what is the alternative? The situation demands that the Lokayukta should opt out, as the institution's very credibility is at stake and the government should also revisit its decision and refer the matter to the CBI.