Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 5: Karnataka Lokayukta, Justice Vishwanath Shetty, clarified that Lokayukta institution was established to address inordinate delays in attending to work relating to the general public. He stressed that the institution is not meant for settling disputes between people's representatives and government officials.

He was reacting to a complaint submitted against municipal commissioner of Puttur city, Roopa Shetty, by municipal president, Jayanti Balnad, during the public grievances hearing and disposal programme held in his presence in the office of the district deputy commissioner here on Monday December 4. When dismissing the petition of Jayanti Balnad, he also expressed his dissatisfaction at the fact that the petitioner failed to personally be present at the venue of the programme, and instead, deputed her legal adviser.

"If the complaint had been accepted, the petitioner's presence would have been required. This happens to be a programme for listening to grievances of the people, not a forum for settling disputes in panchayats and politics. If the president is compelled to file complaint against the commissioner, she is ineligible to remain in that post. If the commissioner fails to work to the satisfaction of the council, a suitable resolution can be passed in the municipal council. If the complaints filed against officials are found to be false, cases will have to be registered against such complainants," he added. He advised people not to take Lokayukta institution lightly.

The Lokayukta also expressed anger at the complaint made by Haneef Saheb against the chief executive officer of the zilla panchayat for transferring several panchayat development officers (PDO) together. "We are not here to listen silly accusations against a responsible IAS officer. Officials play a very important role in the administrative system and making baseless allegations is unwarranted. Moreover, Lokayukta does not have the power to hear petitions about transfer of PDOs," he stated.

When hearing complaint about illegal sand mining, the Lokayukta sought reports on illegal sand mining and stone quarrying respectively by February third and second week.

Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Sasikanth Senthil, additional deputy commissioner, Kumar, district superintendent of police, Sudheer Reddy, zilla panchayat chief executive officer, Dr MR Ravi and others were present.

During the period of the said meeting which commenced at 2.30 pm on Monday and went on till 8.30 pm, 77 applications were disposed off.