N. Santosh Hegde
Nitte Santosh Hegde | |
---|---|
Karnataka Lokayukta | |
In office 3 August 2006 – 3 August 2011 | |
Preceded by | N. Venkatachala |
Succeeded by | Shivaraj Patil |
Judge of the Supreme Court of India | |
In office 8 January 1999 – 16 June 2005 | |
Solicitor General of India | |
In office 10 April 1998 – 7 January 1999 | |
Preceded by | T. R. Andhyarujina |
Succeeded by | Harish Salve |
Advocate General for Karnataka | |
In office 15 February 1984 – 24 August 1988 | |
Preceded by | R. N. Narasimha Murthy |
Succeeded by | R. N. Narasimha Murthy |
Personal details | |
Born | University Law College | 16 June 1940
Occupation | Lawyer, activist |
Nitte Santosh Hegde (born 16 June 1940) is a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, former Solicitor General of India and was Lokayukta (ombudsman) for Karnataka State of India from 2006 to 2011.[1]
Early life
Santosh Hegde was born in a
Career
After completing apprenticeship training, Hegde enrolled as an advocate in January 1966 and was designated as senior advocate in May 1984. He was appointed the
Major anti-corruption cases and investigations as Lok Ayukta of Karnataka
The Lok Ayukta had exposed major irregularities in mines in Bellary, including those owned by
Controversies
- He was alleged to have pressured Chief Minister of Karnataka to remove then
- Some people have questioned his political motives in timing his resignation a day before a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state government convention, though he has not been aligned with any particular political party over the course of his career.[13]
Resignation from post of Lok Ayukta
Hegde resigned from the Lokayukta position on 23 June 2010 after an officer (Deputy Conservator of Forests R Gokul) was suspended by order of minister J. Krishna Palemar and he felt powerless to help.[14] He expressed inability to be effective in his anti-corruption mandate owing to a non-cooperative Government of Karnataka.[15] After the resignation, he stated:
- A cabinet minister wanted an officer to be suspended for having exposed attempts to export illegal iron ore from Belekeri port that was seized by our team in a raid on 20 March. When the officer sought my help, I could not do anything. Besides this, all officers against whom I conducted raids and suspended, have been reinstated.[14]
Amid media speculation[16] that the ports minister Palemar had recommended Gokul's suspension on behalf of some politicians with business interests, Palemar defended his recommendation to suspend Gokul since he failed to attend a meeting, for it raised suspicions that he may be involved in the scam himself.[16] In fact, in a press meeting, Hegde indicated that:
- The whole idea was if Gokul is suspended even for a day, a new investigating officer can be appointed and a scam of this stature which runs to thousands of crores can be shut. ... I couldn’t do anything for [Gokul] who had done the investigation going out of his way. I was very disturbed and couldn’t sleep for two days. I told my wife and decided to resign on Wednesday.
The matter, which is being called the
After persistent protests and public pressure
Justice Hegde withdrew his resignation and agreed to continue in the post of Lok Ayukta after persuasion from National leadership of the BJP. The party risked a major embarrassment in the BJP ruled Karnataka State government by allowing an upright person in public service to leave office,[21] though All India Congress Committee general secretary B K Hariprasad said that "Hegde's actions prove that he is a BJP man".[22]
Retirement and after
He retired as Lokayukta of Karnataka on 2 August 2011. Subsequently, he joined the anti-corruption movement launched by Anna Hazare in 2011 as a core member of Team Anna. In August 2012, he left Team Anna and refused to be part of it after the team decided to go political.[23]
References
- ^ "Karnataka Lokayukta to set example". CNN-IBN. Archived from the original on 18 November 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
- ^ Daijiworld Media Network (7 November 2010). "Mangalore: Justice Santosh Hegde Releases Book on Bunts' History, Culture". Daiji World. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
- ^ "Parliament of India". Archived from the original on 29 April 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ "Biodata of Justice Nitte Santosh Hegde" (PDF). kar.nic.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "Honorary doctorate for Santosh Hegde". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 11 February 2006. Archived from the original on 8 October 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "Justice Santosh Hegde". Voice&Data. Archived from the original on 16 May 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "Reddys have the last laugh, national mines regulator has both hands tied". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ "Illegal mining: Lokayukta slams Government". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "Santosh Hegde Interview: 'Mining Lease Is Used As James Bond's Gun'". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 11 September 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Santosh Hegde Full Interview: 'Mining Lease Is Used As James Bond's Gun'". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012.
- ^ "Under fire BBMP chief edged out". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ "Subramanya shunted out of BBMP". The Times of India. 12 June 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Karnataka: Lokayukta: How Many Seas...: A good man goes, head held high. Ethical cleansing in reverse?". Outlook. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
- ^ a b "I was helpless in protecting an honest officer". Sify. Archived from the original on 26 June 2010.
- ^ "Lokayukta indicts BSY govt, quits". Deccan Herald. 23 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Palemar says he meant no disrespect to the Lokayukta". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 June 2010. Archived from the original on 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Cong 'backs' Hegde and alleges BJP-mafia nexus". India Today.
- ^ "I had to go to save Gokul: Lokayukta". Deccan Chronicle. Archived from the original on 28 June 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
- ^ "Karnataka govt faces Hegde heat". The Indian Express. 30 June 2010.
- ^ "Yeddyurappa admits iron ore racket". The Indian Express. July 2010.
- ^ "Hegde to stay, says can't ignore father-like Advani". The Indian Express.
- ^ Lokayukta Santosh Hegde is a BJP man: Congress, 15 June 2011 21:51 IST, Rediff.com
- ^ "Refuse to be part of Anna's party". 10 August 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2012.
External links
- Profile at Supreme Court of India
- N. Santosh Hegde, Profile at Government of Karnataka website
- Lokayuktha, a 'rehabilitation post' for retired judges: Justice Santhosh Hegde- Newskarnataka.com