Bangalore, Aug 1 : After a “sweet and sour” experience as Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice Santosh Hegde is stepping down tomorrow.
Hegde says, the “system is not up there” to punish quickly the corrupt who had been caught.
“Main thing is you must have a quick disposal system in the country. In Jan Lokpal bill, we have suggested that all corruption cases should completed from the first court within one year. And for that, as many special courts as are required should be created,” said Hegde, a member of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal bill.
He said, “No (corruption) case should be pending for more than one year, under any circumstances, and that will also strengthen the case of the prosecution. Now it takes ten years from the first court. There should be some radical changes in the judicial justice disposal system”.
Hegde, whose report on illegal mining has attracted nation-wide attention, said he somehow feels that “some radical changes are needed in mining”. “Ordinary people suffering ... is something heart-rending if you go to that area (mineral-rich Bellary district where large-scale illegal mining was reported),” he said.
During his tenure, he said he also submitted “important reports” to the Government which have gone unnoticed (by the media) but the export-centric mining report got “publicity”. The 71-year-old former Supreme Court judge whose report on illegal mining triggered a political storm that eventually cost B S Yeddyurappa his Chief Ministerial chair, told PTI that his innings as Lokayukta can be described as “sweet and sour experience”.
“I got an opportunity to help many poor people and also an opportunity to catch some corrupt officers and politicians and have been able to create an awareness about the happenings in Karnataka,” he said. “First of all, I had a wonderful team who worked with me.”
Like “what every retired person does”, he said, a day before completing his five year term, he is looking forward to relaxing and enjoying life.
I am looking forward to a relaxed and enjoyable life like what every retired person does, says Hegde. Meanwhile, former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd) Shivaraj V Patil will take over as the new Lokayukta on August three.
Patil had probed the processes and procedures followed by the Department of Telecommunications in the allocation of licences and spectrum between 2001 and 2009 following the 2G spectrum scam.
He had also served as Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court as well as the Acting Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission. PTI
