Lokayukta Justice Shivraj Patil should quit immediately: Anna Hazare

Bangalore Mirror

Bangalore, 18 September 2011: 

While Justice Shivaraj Patil insists he has not done anything illegal, the torch-bearer of the anti-corruption movement in the country says there is prima-facie case of impropriety and he should not hold the post anymore

 

The ‘diminutive giant’ who has rallied almost a whole nation against corruption has given his verdict on Bangalore Mirror’s expose on Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Shivaraj Patil. When it came to owning plots, even Lokayukta was ignorant of law. 

 

Anna Hazare told this Pune Mirror correspondent in Ralegaon Siddhi near Pune on Saturday, September 17, 2011 that "looking at the news reports" Justice Patil should quit immediately. After taking a hard look at photocopies of BM issues since the expose was first published on September 15, Hazare said, “Prima facie, it seems to be a clear-cut case of impropriety.” ‘He has no right to remain Lokayukta.

Lokayukta-Justice Shivraj Patil

“The available evidence suggests that the Lokayukta should not hold the post an extra moment,” he said. He said that the charges should be investigated and if proven, Justice Patil will have to face the consequences. Hazare said he will seek further information on the matter from his sources. Sale deed belies Lokayukta claim.

 

Bangalore Mirror, in its expose, revealed how Justice Patil flouted rules and regulations pertaining to the house building cooperative societies (HBCS). Though he had bought a site in Vasanthnagar in 1982 and constructed a house on it in 1985, he went on to procure a site measuring 9,600 sq ft at Allalasandra near Yelahanka in 1994 from the Karnataka State Judicial Department Employees HBCS. Mr. Lokayukta, how about returning the 9, 600 sq ft plot too? 

 

Again in 2006, his wife got a site measuring 4,012 sq ft from Vyalikaval HBCS. Both these allotments were in violation of Section 10(a) of the Model Byelaws of HBCS in general, and of the bye-laws of both the societies in particular. Section 10 (a) states: Any member of a housing cooperative society is eligible to buy a property only if he/she does not already own a plot of house/flat/apartment in his/her own name, or in the name of any other member of his/her family in the corporation/development authority/municipality in whose limits the society is situated". This apart, it is still not clear if the judge and his wife had submitted affidavits/declarations — as is mandatory under HBCS — to the effect that they do not possess sites. 

Anna Hazare going through photocopies of the Bangalore Mirror reports 

 

What is more, Vyalikaval HBCS, the housing society in which his wife Annapurna has been allotted the plot, is itself under investigation by the Lokayukta’s office for violations involving Dhavalagiri Propeties, in which former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s sons have a stake. Not just the former CM’s case, the Lokayukta is also sitting on a complaint filed against another HBCS with regard to irregularities regarding allotment of sites. 

 

Hazare said the controversy surrounding Justice Patil is the “most apt” example to highlight what could go wrong with the government’s Lok Pal Bill. “Lok Pal has to have an independent role like the Supreme Court and Election Commission. It should not be like CBI or Anti-Corruption Bureau, under government control,” he said.

 

To underscore this point, he said, “If we have to break the vicious circle of corruption, we have to think of an alternative independent system.”

 

Now, the ball is in the Lokayukta’s court.