Date:05/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/05/stories/2007050512790400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Progress of corruption cases to be monitored by Lokayukta

Raghava M.

Prosecutors have to report to Lokayukta daily

N. Santosh Hegde

BANGALORE: Newly appointed prosecutors will henceforth have to report to the Lokayukta on a day-to-day basis about progress in corruption cases. This will come into effect from June 1.

Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde told The Hindu earlier in the week that the new procedure would enable the anti-corruption body to monitor the progress of corruption cases. In instances where intervention is necessary the Lokayukta will do so.

According to Mr. Hegde, a diary will be maintained for each of the 1,000-odd cases pending before different sessions courts in the State. The diary will contain, among others, the date of adjournment of the case and the reasons for it and a summary of submissions made by the parties. The prosecutor will have to give this information at the end of each day to a nodal officer who will enter it in the Lokayukta diary.

"We are putting in place a professional management system," Mr. Hegde remarked. "The work of the prosecutors will be under scrutiny. If the person is found not performing to the expected level his contract will be terminated," he said.

Special prosecutors

Concerned over cases pending in various courts, the Lokayukta sought the State Government's permission to enlist the services of special public prosecutors and advocates to exclusively handle corruption cases before the sessions courts and the High Court respectively. The Government allowed the services of 20 special public prosecutors and six advocates to be enlisted. All the 26 took charge on Tuesday.