PIL filed against Upa Lokayukta appointment

BANGALORE: Two public interest litigations (PILs) were filed in the High Court on Monday challenging the appointment of Justice Chandrashekaraiah as the Upa Lokayukta.The petitioners, advocates Ananda Murty R and Janekere C Krishna, have stated in their plea that the appointment of the Upa Lokayukta was illegal according to section 3 sub clause 2 of the Lokayukta Act, 1984.“The Act says that five persons, including the High Court Chief Justice, leaders of Opposition and chairpersons of both Houses of the Legislature, and the chief minister must be consulted before appointing the Upa Lokayukta. “However, in this process the most important person, the HC Chief Justice was not consulted,” they contend.‘Discretion Must in Appointments’Meanwhile, in Hassan, H D Deve Gowda blamed the High Court CJ, state government and Justice Chandrashekaraiah for the controversy over appointment of the Upa Lokayukta.