Former Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Shivaraj V. Patil, was today appointed the new Lokayukta of Karnataka, succeeding Mr N. Santosh Hegde, who welcomed the move saying it was a “very good choice’’.
Mr Patil had served as the one-man committee that went into the processes and procedures followed by the Department of Telecommunications in the allocation of licences and spectrum between 2001 and 2009 following the 2G spectrum scam.
He also earlier served as the Chief Justice of Rajasthan High Court as well as the Acting Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.
71-year-old Patil, who hails from Karnataka, replaces Mr Justice (Retd) N. Santosh Hegde, who completes his tenure on August 2.
“Justice Shivaraj Patil... yes, it is a very good choice. I had occasion to work with him in Supreme Court. He is an honest person and a competent person. He will do a good job,” Mr Hegde said in his reaction.
Mr Hegde, also a former Supreme Court judge, is a member on the drafting committee of the Lokpal bill. His leaked report on illegal mining has indicted the Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, triggering a political storm.
A Raj Bhavan communique said the Governor made the appointment on the advice tendered by Mr Yeddyurappa.
He also appointed the former Karnataka High Court judge, Mr Justice (Retd) R. Gururajan as a Upalokayukta.