I would not like to continue in Lokayukta's chair: Hegde

Panaji, April 26: Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde, a member of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill, on Tuesday said that he would not like to continue in his chair after the expiry of his five-year term in August.

"I will not accept if any extension is granted to me. I have worked enough. I can't keep the same tempo," Hegde, known for his vigorous campaign against corruption, told reporters at Dona Paula, near here.

Hegde, who has been instrumental in handling issues like illegal mining in Karnataka's iron ore-rich Bellari, said that he did not want to go through the rigmarole of selecting new set of officers as the officers at Lokpal office are "leaving".

"I don't think, I will be able to continue and cope up. The state government also will not be too happy to have me in the chair", he said.

The former Supreme Court judge said that the institution of Lokayukta in the last four years and seven months has charge-sheeted about 1,400 officials, including officers of the IAS and IPS, and also some MLAs.

He, however, admitted that a few cases had reached their logical conclusion.

"The cases of 1999-2000 are still pending in various courts. So you can imagine, by the time these cases are completed, it will be 2020," he quipped.

The Lokayukta pointed out that more than corruption it's the maladministration in the system which needs to be rectified.

He said that anti-corruption agitation of Anna Hazare received massive support as fire against the scourge of corruption was burning in the hearts of common people.

The Lokayukta had recently said that he was "reconsidering" his decision to be on the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill as he was upset over the "vilification campaign" against the anti-graft panel.

PTI