Now, guv objects to Justice Shetty's name for Lokayukta

Governor Vajubhai Vala is learnt to have directed the state government to reconsider the name of Justice P Vishwanath Shetty for the post of Lokayukta following complaints that he had purchased land in violation of rules.

According to sources in the state secretariat, Vala has also written to the government pointing out that there were procedural lapses while recommending the name of Justice Shetty to Raj Bhavan for approval. It is said the governor has written a two-page letter to explain why he is directing the government to look afresh into its decision.

Vala is understood to have brought to the notice of the government that founder-president of Samaj Parivartana Samudaya S R Hiremath had submitted a memorandum to Raj Bhavan along with documents charging that Justice Shetty and his family were involved in the purchase of three sites and seven acres of agriculture land in violation of rules.

 The Governor is also said to have questioned as to why the government did not check properly the background of its nominee and went ahead with clearning the name in just a day.

At a high-level meeting to select the new Lokayukta on January 9, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar had mentioned about the charges against Justice Shetty regarding land purchase.  But Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed it as trivial.