The BJP government in Karnataka on Thursday took a step towards according closure to the July 27 report of the Lokayukta on illegal mining which indicted then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa and several top ministers. The state cabinet,in a controversial meeting held on Thursday,decided that it will take action against 787 government officials named in the Lokayukta report but has sought three technical clarifications from the Lokayukta. The clarifications have been sought with barely a fortnight left for the end of the 90-day period available to the government to accept or reject the July 27 report. The technical clarifications sought by the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda reflect the views expressed by Yeddyurappa in a petition filed in the Karnataka High Court against the Lokayukta report in August this year shortly after he was forced to resign on July 31 due to his indictment. The clarifications have been sought at a time when there is no full time Lokayukta in place. The Cabinet,through the process of seeking clarifications,has evaded the issue of the Lokayuktas recommendation for action against Yeddyurappa and other ministers indicted in the report while moving to act against government officials who have been named. The cabinet decision is being viewed as evidence of Yeddyurappas influence over the government and the move was angrily opposed by a faction of ministers belonging to the Jagadish Shettar camp,sources said. State Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar claimed that the cabinet decision was not a move to question the Lokayukta report but merely an effort to seek clarification on three technical points. First,on whether the Lokayukta could investigate the mining issue under Sec 7(2) A of the Lokayukta Act when there is no formal complaint against any individuals. Second,on whether the Lokayukta can ask for the removal of ministers appointed on the recommendation of the Chief Minister. And third,on why the agency did not follow principles of natural justice and seek the views of people indicted in the report. The Law Minister said that along with the request for clarifications,the government will send an action taken report (ATR) on the Lokayuktas report. We are seeking a clarification because these proceedings will set a precedent for the future. We have to take all precautions before implementing the report. That is all we are going to do. We have taken the opinion of the Advocate General on this, said Suresh Kumar.
