Lokayukta justice N Santosh Hegde refused to reconsider his decision to quit on Friday, and reiterated that his decision was final and irrevocable. Union home minister P Chidambaram had earlier in the day tried to convince the Karnataka Lokayukta to withdraw his resignation, and fervently appealed to him that his quitting would encourage “corrupt elements” in the state.
However, the former Supreme Court judge made it clear that he would not budge from his decision. “I am not in the habit of using my resignation as a tool of blackmail and the decision is irrevocable,” Hegde said.
Chidambaram, who spoke to Hegde who tendered his resignation on Wednesday citing the “callous” attitude of the BJP government in the state towards fighting corruption as the reason, said that he had requested the Lokayukta not to press for the acceptance of his resignation.
“His resignation will give greater encouragement and comfort to corrupt elements in Karnataka. Therefore in the interest of the people of Karnataka, he should not press his resignation,” Chidambaram said. He also indicated that Hegde would consider his request.
However, Hegde categorically stated that his decision to quit the post of the Lokayukta was final. He said that apart from the Union home minister, several other senior officials like former chief justices of the Supreme Court and the state governor HR Bhardwaj had entreated him to withdraw his resignation.
He refuted allegations of the BJP that his decision to resign was due to political influence. “Nobody can influence me,” he said, adding, “No political motive should be ascribed to it. This is my personal decision and it is final.”
He described Chidambaram as an old friend and professional colleague for decades. “He spoke as a friend, as an acquaintance. It was a courtesy call,” said the anti-corruption crusader, and indicated that Chidambaram’s statement that Hegde might reconsider his resignation was nothing more than the Union minister’s “pious hope”. “I don’t want to be useless sitting in a position. It is not enough if I catch people. I need powers to bring the cases to a logical conclusion,” he said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Advocates’ Association of Bangalore headed by its president KN Putte Gowda met justice Hegde to convince him to revoke his decision, but the latter stood his ground.
“I have been receiving a stream of visitors pleading for my continuance. Hundreds of people are calling me over the phone and sending SMSes urging me to stay. But my decision is final,” the Lokayukta said.
The advocates’ delegation later in the evening met governor HR Bhardwaj and submitted a memorandum urging him not to accept justice Hegde’s resignation. “The governor has assured us that he would not accept the resignation and even try to get prominent Union ministers, including the home minister, to convince justice Hegde on the need for him to continue as the Lokayukta in the interest of the country,” Putte Gowda said.
Their memorandum included a demand for immediate action against officials trapped by the Lokayukta during his anti-corruption operations.
Hegde’s resignation came at a time when the first-ever BJP government in the south was celebrating its completion of two years in office. With PTI inputs
