>Oria 6 at 16:53, 8 July 2021

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{{EngvarB|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Karnataka Lokayukta
| body =
| native_name =
| incumbent = Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 28 January 2017
| type =
| status =
| department =
| style =
| member_of =
| reports_to =
| residence =
| seat = MS Building, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Road, [[Bengaluru]], [[Karnataka]]
| nominator =
| appointer =
| appointer_qualified =
| termlength =
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor =
| formation = January 1986
| second = A. D. Koshal
| last =
| abolished =
| succession =
| abbreviation =
| unofficial_names =
| deputy = Upa Lokayukta
| salary =
| website = [http://lokayukta.kar.nic.in lokayukta.kar.nic.in]
}}

'''Karnataka Lokayukta''' is the [[ombudsman]] institution of the Indian state of [[Karnataka]]. It was established in 1984 to investigate and report on corruption in the [[Government of Karnataka]] and to redress public grievances related to state government employees.<ref name="act">{{cite web | url=http://lokayukta.kar.nic.in/karnataka_lokayukta_act.htm | title=The Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984 | publisher=Government of Karnataka | access-date=6 January 2014}}</ref> This [[Lokayukta]] that was once considered the most powerful such institution in the country.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lokpal-lokayukta-offices-lack-basic-infrastructure/1/173027.html |title=Most lokayukta offices lack basic infrastructure : Special Report |work=India Today |access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> However, it was stripped off its investigative powers before transferring them to the Anti-Corruption Bureau in 2016.

== Background ==
In 1966, a report by the [[Administrative Reforms Commission]] recommended the setting up of [[Lokpal]] at the federal level and [[Lokayukta]] in the states, for the redressal of citizen's grievances.<ref name="Laxmikanth">{{cite book|author=Laxmikanth|title=Governance in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DY1CAQAAQBAJ&pg=SA5-PA21|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (India) Pvt Limited|isbn=978-0-07-107466-7|pages=5–}}</ref> Therefore, [[Maharashtra]] established [[Maharashtra Lokayukta|its Lokayukta]] in 1971. The Lokayukta Ordinance Act 1979, was exercised by D. Devaraj Urs, then Chief Minister of Karnataka, and the first Lokayukta to be appointed was then retired Chief Justice of Rajasthan High court, Justice C. Honniah. The same institution was abolished when R. Gundu Rao became the chief minister of Karnataka, after the demise of D. Devaraj Urs. The institution was again re introduced after [[Ramakrishna Hegde]], became then [[Chief Minister of Karnataka]], and introduced the ''Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta Bill'' in the assembly as their 1983 election promise.<ref name="Pohekar2010">{{cite book|author=Preeti Dilip Pohekar|title=A Study of Ombudsman System in India with Special Reference to Lokayukta in Maharashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N1fIduSccNkC&pg=PA130|year=2010|publisher=Gyan Publishing House|isbn=978-81-212-1055-3|pages=130–}}</ref> It came into force through the ''Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984''. Then, Mysore State Vigilance Commission which formed in 1965 to investigate corruption cases in the state was abolished. The pending cases before the commission was transferred to the newly formed Lokayukta.<ref name="RamaniMavalankar2008">{{cite book|author1=K V Ramani|author2=Dileep V Mavalankar|author3=Dipti Govil|title=Strategic Issues and Challenges in Health Management|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m783RAXbcUgC&pg=PA76|date=11 June 2008|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-0-7619-3654-1|pages=76–}}</ref><ref name="act" /> It had two jurisdictions: to investigate corruption and to probe government inaction.<ref>{{cite web|title=‘Don’t denude Lokayukta’s office’|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/opinion/don-t-denude-lokayukta-s-office-113983.html|publisher=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|access-date=31 January 2018|date=1 January 2016}}</ref>

== Lokayukta ==
=== Appointment and Powers ===
As per the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, a person appointed the Lokayukta (the institution and its head bearing the same names), who either held the office of a Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]] or that of the Chief Justice of a [[List of High Courts of India|High Court]] of India. The Act was amended in 2015, according to which any person who has held the post of judge of the High court for a period of ten years can be appointed as Lokayukta and five years in case of Upa Lokayukta.<ref name="act" /> The Lokayukta is appointed by the [[Governor of Karnataka]] on advice of Chief Minister of Karnataka in consultation with the Chief Justice of the [[High Court of Karnataka]], the Chairman of [[Karnataka Legislative Council]], the Speaker of [[Karnataka Legislative Assembly]], the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council and the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly.<ref name="act" /> The Lokayukta has the power to investigate cases in relation to the Chief Minister, all other Ministers and Members of the State Legislature and all state government employees.<ref name="act" />

The Lokayukta, through Bureau of Investigation, its police wing,<ref>{{cite news|title=Karnataka Lok Ayukta loses sting|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/Storyold/10850/|access-date=1 April 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=29 September 1997}}</ref> had derived its investigating powers from the [[Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Karnataka, a State Without a Trusted Watchdog|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/lokayukta-karnataka-a-state-without-a-trusted-watchdog|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Quint|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> Upon the formation of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in 2016, these powers were taken away. The powers now remain to giving directions to the ACB to investigate a case that the former finds sufficient evidence for, under section 15(3) of the Lokayukta Act, 1984. It is mandatory to for the ACB to follow these directions, and Lokayukta holds powers to sue the former if it does not.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Lokayukta institution must be strengthened: Justice Shetty|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/the-lokayukta-institution-must-be-strengthened-justice-shetty/articleshow/62459611.cms|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Times of India|date=11 January 2018}}</ref> Criticism was directed at the government of Karnataka after it took away the investigative powers from the Lokayukta and having given it to the ACB which functions directly under its supervision. Also, the Lokayukta remains an independent body while the ACB reports to the Chief Secretary of the State.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lokayukta may finally get a new head: Siddaramaiah calls meeting on January 9|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/lokayukta-may-finally-get-a-new-head-siddaramaiah-calls-meeting-on-jan-9/articleshow/56362614.cms|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Times of India|date=6 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Blow to Lokayukta as government sets up Anti-Corruption Bureau|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/blow-to-lokayukta-as-government-sets-up-anticorruption-bureau/article8353901.ece|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Hindu|date=15 March 2016}}</ref>

=== Former Lokayuktas ===
The term of office of the Lokayukta is five years and former Lokayuktas listed below:<ref>{{cite news|author=S. Rajendran |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/uncongenial-atmosphere-forced-decision-patil/article2469868.ece |title=Uncongenial atmosphere forced decision: Patil |publisher=The Hindu |date=20 September 2011 |access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Term
|-
|A. D. Koshal
|January 1986–1991
|-
|Rabindranath Pyne
|1991–1996
|-
|Abdul Hakim
|1996–2001
|-
|[[N. Venkatachala]]
|2 July 2001–2006
|-
|[[Santosh Hegde]]
|3 August 2006–2 August 2011
|-
|[[Shivaraj Patil]]
|3 August 2011–19 September 2011
|-
|[[Y. Bhaskar Rao]]
|14 February 2013–8 December 2015
|-
|P. Vishwanatha Shetty
|28 January 2017–present
|}

Justice A. D. Koshal, a retired Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] was appointed the first Lokayukta and took charge in January 1986.<ref>{{cite news|title=A new beginning to root out corruption|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/A-new-beginning-to-root-out-corruption/article16193735.ece|access-date=2 February 2018|work=The Hindu|date=12 July 2010}}</ref> Justice [[N. Venkatachala]] was appointed as the Lokayukta in June 2001<ref>{{cite news|title=N. Venkatachala is new Lokayukta|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/06/27/stories/0427402k.htm|access-date=31 January 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=27 June 2001}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> taking office a month later.<ref>{{cite news|title=Justice Venkatachala sworn in as Lokayukta|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/07/03/stories/0403210h.htm|access-date=1 April 2018|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=3 July 2001}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> It was during his tenure that the institution gained popularity in that he was "known for bringing the lokayukta to people's doorstep". He would reportedly walk from door to door coaxing people to file complaints.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mahesh Kulkarni|first1=Mahesh|title=Karnataka: Teeth to the lokayukta|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/karnataka-teeth-to-the-lokayukta-111050300040_1.html|publisher=Business Standard|access-date=1 April 2018|date=20 January 2013}}</ref> He was called a "one-man army against the corrupt bureaucracy" by former [[Chief Justice of India]] [[M. N. Venkatachaliah]].<ref>{{cite web|title=`Venkatachala was a one-man army'|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/venkatachala-was-a-oneman-army/article3053208.ece|publisher=The Hindu|access-date=1 April 2018|date=26 November 2006}}</ref>

Justice [[Santosh Hegde]] took charge in August 2006 before resigning from the position in June 2010 owing to political interference from the ruling [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Santosh Hegde resigns as Karnataka Lokayukta|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/Santosh-Hegde-resigns-as-Karnataka-Lokayukta/article16265638.ece|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Hindu|date=24 June 2010}}</ref> However, he withdrew the resignation a few days later upon being asked to reconsider by senior BJP leader [[L. K. Advani]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hegde to stay, says can’t ignore father-like Advani|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/hegde-to-stay-says-can-t-ignore-fatherlike-advani/641981/0|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Indian Express|date=4 July 2010}}</ref> Upon completion of his term in August 2011, Justice [[Shivaraj Patil]] took over. He resigned next month after a controversy broke out over allotment of housing sites in 1994 for his wife and him allegedly in violation of the Bangalore city [[by-law]]s, while maintaining his innocence that.<ref>{{cite news|title=Karnataka Lokayukta Shivraj Patil resigns|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/nwXE3FV2QievhHju63PvMN/Karnataka-Lokayukta-Shivraj-Patil-resigns.html|access-date=31 January 2018|work=Mint|date=19 September 2011}}</ref> Justice [[Y. Bhaskar Rao]], who took charge after more than two years, also resigned from the position after charges of running an extortion ring in the Lokayukta institution were directed against his son and him.<ref>{{cite news|title=Karnataka Lokayukta quits to avoid removal|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/y-bhaskar-rao-resigns-as-lokayukta/article7961608.ece|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Hindu|date=8 December 2015}}</ref> After the post remained vacant for more than year, Justice P. Vishwanatha Shetty was appointed in January 2017.<ref>{{cite news|title=God has given me a chance to serve the people: Lokayukta P Vishwanath Shetty|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/god-has-given-me-a-chance-to-serve-the-people-lokayukta-shetty/articleshow/56841425.cms|access-date=31 January 2018|work=The Times of India|date=29 January 2017}}</ref>

== Investigation ==
In 2011, Santosh Hegde submitted a report on [[illegal mining]] in the state which reported loss of Rs 160.85 billion to the state.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=729110 |title=Illegal Mining Loss Rs 16,085 Cr: Karnataka Lokayukta |publisher=News.outlookindia.com |access-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108055638/http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=729110 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This report exposed the biggest [[Mining scams in India|mining scam in India]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/jul/13/justice-hegde-on-indias-biggest-scam.htm |title=Guess the biggest scam India has seen! – Rediff.com India News |publisher=News.rediff.com |date=13 July 2010 |access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref> This report led to the resignation of [[B. S. Yeddyurappa]], then Chief Minister of Karnataka, from the post.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14361737 |title=BBC News – Karnataka 'mining scam' leader Yeddyurappa quits |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=1 August 2011 |access-date=8 January 2014}}</ref>

== See Also ==
* [[Lokayukta]]
* [[Goa Lokayukta]]
* [[Maharashtra Lokayukta]]
* [[Uttar Pradesh Lokayukta]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://lokayukta.kar.nic.in Official website]

[[Category:Government of Karnataka]]
[[Category:Anti-corruption agencies]]
[[Category:Ombudsman posts]]
[[Category:Lokayuktas]]
[[Category:Anti-corruption measures in India]]

Karnataka Lokayukta - Revision history

>Oria 6 at 16:53, 8 July 2021