`If I join politics, people will beat me up’- Hegde

TNN

Bangalore, 11 December 2010: Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde’s despair and helplessness is increasingly becoming evident in his public statements. On Friday at a Meet the Press programme, he said corruption has crept into the judiciary as well the media. The bureaucracy and legislature were conjoined twins as far as corruption is concerned.

 

 

Answering a question on repeated stay orders on investigation against corrupt officials, he said: "There have been several incidents like the impeachment move against Kolkata high court judge or incidents in the Karnataka high court. The Supreme Court comments on Allahabad high court also suggest the extent of the problem."

 

Analysing the reason for this, he pointed out that the salary of a high court judge was Rs 4,000 in 1914 but reduced to Rs 3,500 after Independence. The same salary structure continued till 1985. During this period, no good advocates came forward to become a judge, he said.

 

Besides, several scams were dragged to courts, which `brushed them under the carpet’. At the same time, there were no substantial reforms in the judicial system.

 

Asked whether he had received a complaint against corrupt journalists, he said: "Yes. However, I cannot investigate them as only government officials come under my purview."

 

No More Resignations

 

Reacting to attacks by BJP leaders, including national president Nitin Gadkari, Justice Hegde said he wasn’t going to resign again. "I agree with Gadkari __ I behave like an opposition party leader and I am the opposition party leader to all parties in power. My duty is to look into misdeeds of the ruling party and initiate action,’’ he said.

 

"However, I would have been happy if Gadkari had asked me not to withdraw my resignation when he came home. For that decision, I came under fire from the opposition as well as many thinkers. I had to apologise publicly,’’ he said.

 

Asked if he was contemplating resigning again, he said firmly: "I will not retire till my term is complete. I’ll work the way I’m working till the last day."

 

To, whether he would initiate contempt proceedings against politicians criticising him, Justice Hegde said there was a provision but he wouldn’t use it. "Even as a judge, I didn’t use it. It should be used in the rarest of rare case. At this moment, I don’t plan to use it,’’ he added.

 

Rapid Fire Round

 

* Future of Lokayukta after his retirement: My successor has to tell that.

* Post-retirement plans: Will not join any anti-corruption organisations, but will extend issue-based support.

* Joining politics: If I join politics and contest elections and seek votes from people, they will beat me up.

* On BJP’s criticism: Give me one example of calling anyone a convict. As spokesperson of the institution, I have to give information to the media. When small people are caught, no one objects to media coverage. When big persons are caught, the investigation agency is expected to maintain silent till the court gives its verdict!

 

’Stop SMS Appeal’

 

Justice Hegde appealed to people to stop the SMS campaign expressing support to him. "Since Thursday evening, I’ve been flooded with SMSes and phone calls. I request people to stop this,’’ he added. On Thursday, a citizen’s anti-corruption organization, Brashtachara Virodhi Ranga (BVR), began the SMS campaign and even opposition leader Siddaramaiah sent the SMS, `We are with you’, to the Lokayukta.