In a major setback to ruling Congress Government captained by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a two member Bench of the Karnataka High Court has stopped the transfer of corruption cases to the newly set up Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) from the lokayukta. The two member Bench comprising of Justice SK Mukherjee and Justice Ravi Malimath directed the lokayukta to continue with investigation on corruption cases.
There is major opposition both within the ruling Congress and the BJP over the creation of ACB which is weakened the lokayukta. However Siddaramaiah on the floor of the House justified the creation of the ACB and the State Government in an order issued on March 12 announced formation of the ACB and had ordered transfer of more than 750 cases to ACB for investigation. However the order was challenged through a Public Interest litigation. The senior Congress leaders like former Chief Minister SM Krishna, BK Hariprasad and Janardhan Poojary and others have opposed Chief Minister’s move openly to create ACB and said this would destroy the integrity and purpose of lokayukta.
The same Bench had earlier stayed transfer of cases and on Tuesday ordered that the cases pending will be dealt by lokayukta. The Bench rejected an appeal by Advocate General MR Naik who stated that there are sufficient experts in the ACB and they can handle the cases.
The formation of ACB had attracted widespread criticism by Opposition parties and also leading public personalities including former Supreme Court Judge and former lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde, veteran freedom fighter Doreswamy and others.
Even the High Court had also pulled up the State Government for forming ACB without proper infrastructure and ordering transfer of cases which were in the process of investigation by the lokayukta.
Many Congress insiders say Chief Minister was asked to explain the need to create ACB by the party high command.