The just concluded 10-day Winter Session of the Karnataka Assembly witnessed developments which could kill the lokayukta institution.

After the amendment to Karnataka lokayukta Act, the Opposition both the BJP and the JD(S) moved a motion supported by the ruling party members, which include Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, to oust controversial lokayukta Y Bhaskar Rao. But amidst protest by the BJP, Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa admitted petition submitted by the ruling party for removal of deputy lokayukta Justice Subhash Adi on charges of misconduct. This move is seen by many political pundits as an attempt to destabilise the lokayukta institution which was set up to crack down on corruption in bureaucracy.

The ruling party members strategically had sought his removal on the grounds that he had encroached on the then Deputy lokayukta Majige’s jurisdiction to give clean chit to a Government doctor accused of diverting medicines to a private clinic. However, Justice Adi can continue to attend his office till Speaker writes to Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court seeking setting up of a three-member panel to probe charges against him and lokayukta Justice Y Bhaskar Rao.

But many allege this is a ploy by the ruling Congress Government to certainly destroy lokayukta which is now looking at many corrupt cases which has direct links with some of the ruling party members. However, the vigilance director of the lokayukta conducted an enquiry and reported that the allegations were baseless against Adi.

However Deputy lokayukta Adi told the media if he was found guilty he was ready to resign but said he had just forwarded a report to the Government. He said, “By simply forwarding the report (to the Government) I have not committed any crime. let them produce one instance of my involvement in corruption. I will resign...This situation is created only to destabilise this institution (lokayukta). I will not let this institution perish as long as I am here.”

According to him, he was being targeted for ordering an investigation into corruption within the lokayukta, which led to Ashwin’s racket being busted. Both Justice Rao and Justice Majage were unhappy with this.

leader of the Opposition Jagadish Shettar of the BJP termed the Government move on the removal of the Deputy lokayukta “anti-democratic”. The former law Minister S Suresh Kumar had sought documents based on which charges were framed against Adi. But the government had curtailed the right of the member by denying information on the documents, Shettar charged. He said if the Deputy lokayukta too was removed, a situation would arise where there would be a vacuum in the anti-corruption watchdog.

According to insiders in the Congress, the ruling party would rather like the lokayukta being shut down than allow Justice Adi become the interim lokayukta after Justice Rao. “If he becomes, lokayukta he would certainly reopen many corruption cases which are now dormant,” a source said.

It is known fact that the ruling Government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had enjoyed a good “rapport” with Justice Rao as he had stalled enquiries into complaints against the Chief Minister and several other ministers. In fact, Rao had dismissed a complaint against Siddaramaiah for the denotification of 3 acres of land. lokayukta has to start an enquiry into another scandal of the denotification of around 800 acres in Arkavathy layout against the Government.

It is known fact that many cases are still pending against some Ministers in Siddaramaiah Cabinet, which needs to be probed by lokayukta. There are illegal iron ore mining cases pending against Energy Minister DK Shivakumar, sand mining cases against Cooperation Minister Mahadeva Prasad and land grabbing cases against Industries Minister RV Deshpande, which have made little or no progress. Adi thinks he is being targeted for probing corruption within lokayukta

In a recent development, 13 senior counsels, including two former advocate generals, BV Acharya and Uday Holla, wrote to Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa urging him to desist from initiating proceedings for Justice Adi’s removal.

They said Justice Adi had an unblemished record and was one of the best judges of the Karnataka High Court. “Justice Adi has held the office (of Deputy lokayukta) with dignity and has conducted himself in an impeccable manner. It is unfortunate that baseless allegations are being levelled against him,” they said.