Declaring assets will set a bad precedent: Ayukta

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: Karnataka Lokayukta Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty on Monday made it clear that he did not declare his assets and liabilities as he does not want to set a bad precedent that would weaken the Lokayukta institution.

Stating that it would have an adverse impact on Lokayukta, Justice Vishwanath Shetty has said that one person wrote a letter to the state government seeking amendment to Karnataka Lokayukta Act to make Lokayukta to declare assets and liabilities.

“I have written to the state government opposing any amendment to Karnataka Lokayukta Act to ensure Lokayukta declare assets and liabilities. My objective is that people must trust a retired High Court Judge. You must trust Lokayukta,’’ said Justice Shetty, adding that he did not declare assets to prevent his friends and relatives seeking financial assistance from him.

Justice Shetty has said that Lokayukta filing assets would not make any difference. “There are many methods and ways to hide assets. Lokayukta deals with so many sensitive issues. There is a possibility of some people with vested interest trying to misuse the information declared on Lokayukta’s assets. If Lokayukta becomes dishonest, the Lokayukta institution will become weak,” Justice Shetty said.

Justice Shetty’s five-year term comes to an end on January 27. He said the Lokayukta institution has discharged its duties despite divesting police powers. “I have written a letter to the state government and have submitted my opinion to the High Court emphasizing the need to merge the existing Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) with the Lokayukta. If the ACB power is conferred, it will be an additional strength to the Lokayukta. It will be a protection to honest government officers and a nightmare for dishonest government officials,” he said.

He said that he has taken measures to fill up the 22 vacancies for Superintendent of Police posts. “It is for the first time to fill up this many posts,’’ he said, adding that Lokayukta has a police wing and it has the authority to launch a probe based on a complaint.

Stating that he is authorized to direct the Anti-Corruption Bureau to probe the complaints, he said that he could take action if the ACB fails to probe the complaint. “So far I did not utilize the power to direct the ACB as I did not want to cause confusion or controversy. If I focus on this which is only 10 per cent, 90 per cent of the work will get affected,” he said.

Commenting on the stabbing incident, he said that there was no strong reason for the accused to attack him. “It depends on the mentality of that person. It is not clear whether he alone planned to attack me or there are some people behind the stabbing incident. According to the police report, it was an attempt to keep Lokayukta post vacant to avoid corrupt officers getting punishment for their corrupt activities,” he said.

The Lokayukta has said the state government has not cooperated with the Lokayukta to initiate criminal proceedings against corrupt government employees. “Sai Datta, a social activist, has filed a petition in the High Court seeking a direction to the state government to give its nod to Lokayukta to prosecute corrupt government employees,’’ he said.

The Lokayukta has put the number of complaints instituted in five years at 20549, enquiries instituted 2431, complaints disposed 20199, enquiries disposed 2677, reports sent( under Section 12 {3}) 2122, and the number of reports sent (under Section 12{1}) 587. “I have taken only one-and-half day leave during the year 2020. I have encashed my leave,” he said with a smile.