At last, Govt wants Hegde to stay on

DHNS

• Lokayukta polite, but unmoved

Bangalore, 03 July 2010: Ten days after Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde announced his resignation, damning the State government for failing to curb illegal mining, the ruling BJP sought to resort to damage control and appealed to the Lokayukta to withdraw his resignation.

Ministers V S Acharya and Suresh Kumar, besides party State president K S Eshwarappa, with media in tow called on Justice Hegde at his residence on Friday morning and urged him to reconsider his decision.

The former Supreme Court Judge, however, stuck to his stand but “out of politeness” told the delegation that he would convey his decision soon.

During their 45-minute interaction, the delegation told Hegde that the State Government would order a comprehensive inquiry into illegal mining since 2003 and punish the guilty. Efforts would also be made to get export of ore banned. 

The Government needed his guidance to weed out illegal mining  and bring the guilty to book, the team told Justice Hegde.

Suresh Kumar later told reporters that they had decided to call on the Lokayukta and “break the ice” as he (Lokayukta) on Thursday had welcomed Chief Minister Yeddyurappa’s statement to take stringent steps to curb illegal mining.
The Lokayukta said he had decided to tender his resignation after due consideration and his decision was final.

He reiterated to them the sequence of events which led him to resign.

When the delegation still persisted, Hegde told them he would convey his decision in the days to come.