Expressing doubts over the State Government implementing his report on the mining scam in Karnataka, State Lokayukta, Mr Justice N. Santosh Hegde, today said his only hope was the Supreme Court.
“The Government will not act on it”, Mr Hegde said on the report which is expected to be submitted to the Government next week.
“My only hope is the Supreme Court”, he told PTI in an interview.
He, however, said it was not mandatory for the Government to accept his report, which has indicted the Chief Minister, Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa.
Four ministers, including three from the mineral-rich Bellary district, have also been indicted by the Lokayukta, whose findings say that the “huge racket” has caused a loss of Rs 1,800 crore to the exchequer in 14 months since March 2009.
Mr Hegde, a former Supreme Court judge, said the apex court is monitoring the illegal activity in mining area in Karnataka and it has expressed very strongly that the government completely stop mining in Bellary.
“And I have evidence and other things of illegality going on in Bellary; I have put it in my report. And I am sure (the Supreme Court appointed) Central Empowered Committee which is collaborating with us (Karnataka Lokayukta) also...Their object is the same as mine (of) curbing illegal mining. They may take the report (to be submitted next week) and place it before the Supreme Court“.
As an “agency” created by the Supreme Court, the CEC can “straight away” take the report and does not have to apply under the Right to Information Act, he said.
“As much as the Government is entitled to a copy, the Supreme Court is also (entitled),” he said, noting the CEC has taken his first report on illegal mining submitted in December 2008, and “relied upon it” and he expects it to do it this time as well.