Moily gave clarifications about saying Lokayukta as ‘superficial’

On Monday Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily denied media reports attributing to him that he had said Karnataka Lokayukta Justice Santosh Hegde was making ‘superficial’ statements and acting little against the corrupt Karnataka government.

Moily in a clarification issued here said he had appreciated the efforts of Justice Hegde, due to whose efforts, Lokayukta office in the state got special powers.

I had only said that when the state governments, like the BJP government in Karnataka, indulge in corruption, the Lokayukta was empowered to deal with the situation and in the ultimate analysis the judiciary, which has power of judicial review to check corruption.

‘The union government cannot directly interfere with the state government when the executive fails to discharge their duty, misuse their powers, indulge in corruption or nepotism in view of the federal framework of the Constitution. Only Lokayukta could act in such cases in states. This was what I had stated in the press conference,’ Mr Moily clarified.

The Law minister denied the report and said he had high regards for Justice Hegde in the field of law and his impeccable honesty and integrity for bringing good governance in the state.

Mr Hegde had reacted angrily to Moily’s purported statement saying that the Lokayukta was making superficial statements against corruption.