BSY begins sabre-rattling against Governor

BANGALORE: Stopping short of calling Governor H R Bhardwaj a “hypocrite”, former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday asked him to either listen to the government to appoint Justice S R Bannurmath as Lokayukta or step down immediately.In a six-page strongly-worded note circulated to his party MLAs in order to “prepare them” to take the fight against the Governor to its logical end, Yeddyurappa said Bhardwaj, as Union Law Minister between May 2002 and May 2009, had recommended Justice Bannurmath to the collegium for appointment as Chief Justice of Kerala High Court.“The collegium headed by the Chief Justice of India then recommended to the President Justice Bannurmath for the post of Kerala HC CJ. He (Justice Bannurmath) had declared his assets and liabilities, including the so-called controversial housing site allotted by the judicial society then. Why is Bhardwaj, who recommended Justice Bannurmath then, opposing his appointment as Lokayukta?” Yeddyurappa asked in the note.The former CM averred that Justice Bannurmath, as Kerala HC CJ, posted details of his assets and liabilities online, thus becoming worthy of emulation for others on transparency.On the Governor’s statement that he would readily sign the appointment of Lokayukta if the government recommends Justice Santosh Hegde, the  former CM said: “Is he (Governor) not aware that the same person cannot be appointed as Lokayukta for two consecutive terms? Is this in line with the Constitutional position Bhardwaj is holding?” and added that he was the “epicentre” of “destabilising the BJP government”.Yeddyurappa said 84 judges of Karnataka High Court, including former Lokayukta N Venkatachala, SHRC Chairman Justice S R Nayak, Justice A J Sadashiva and former Supreme Court Justice R V Raveendran had got sites allotted by the same society despite many of them owning houses.“I do not intend casting aspersion on the integrity of these personalities. In fact, section 7 of the Judicial Housing Cooperative Society Act makes provision for sites to be allotted to judges too. Moreover, the BDA has not said the sites allotted to judges, including Bannurmath, are meant for civic amenity,” Yeddyurappa said.“The Governor has no option but to accept the recommendation,” he said.