Retired Karnataka High Court Judge S B Majage was sworn as the state's Upalokayukta at a brief ceremony at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. The Upalokayukta post had been lying vacant for seven months.
Lokayukta Santosh Hegde had demanded that the post be filled up and was one of the conditions laid down by him for withdrawing his resignation from the post earlier this month. Speaking at a function after taking over office, Majage said that he would work "within the ambit of law" and would make sincere and honest effort to check corruption.
He asked aggrieved persons to come forward and lodge complaints if they have been affected by corruption. Majage described it as "a golden opportunity" given to him to serve people and said he would peruse through all pending files and try and redress grievances of people. Speaking on the occasion, Hegde said that "it gave him great satisfaction to see that the Upalokayukta had been appointed".
The Lokayukta said that there were nearly 7,000 to 8,000 pending cases and nearly 3,500 cases ready to be cleared and awaiting the nod from the Upalokayukta. Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said that the government as promised had filled in the vacancy of Upalokayukta and was confident that it would help strengthen the hands of the institution.
