Ktaka Lokayukta Act can be model for Lokpal Bill: Hegde

The law could be much better if certain demands that had been made over the last few years are met,he said

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In an effort to find a middle path between the UPA governments Lokpal Bill and civil societys Jan Lokpal Bill,the Karnataka Lokayukta Act of 1986 with proposed amendments could be a good starting point for the 10-member committee setting out to draft a new Bill,says Karnataka Lokayukta,retired Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde.

The Karnataka Lokayukta Act of 1986 is a good law compared to what exists in the rest of the country to fight corruption,said Justice Hegde,also a member of the drafting panel.

The law could be much better if certain demands that had been made over the last few years are met,he said.

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Among the principal demands of Hegde for strengthening the institution is an amendment to section 36 of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973 to make the Lokayukta a superior police officer under whose directions investigations can be carried out.

Another crucial demand for strengthening the Lokayukta is suo motu powers to take up investigations against elected representative and government officials the existing law mandates a probe only if an official complaint is filed.

On July 9 last year,Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa announced in the Assembly plans to amend the Karnataka Lokayukta but the proposals only met half of Hegdes demands.

The government said it will allow Lokayukta to move suo motu cases against Class I state government officers,including seniormost bureaucrats,but made no move to include elected representatives.

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The argument against the existing law is few people come forward to file complaints against senior officials or elected representatives for fear of retribution.

Certain promises were made when I resigned in June last year. Part of those promises have been fulfilled. I cannot go on resigning everyday, said Hegde,who had resigned over the issue once.

Hegde also cited the amendments in the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as an example of the lack of will in the government to battle corruption.

On December 23,2008 the LS passed The Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill,2008.

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The amendments made it mandatory for investigating agencies pursuing charges against government officials or elected representatives to obtain sanction of the state or central government to confiscate illegally obtained property.