Good character must for Lokayukta

BANGALORE: Hearing two PILs challenging the appointment of Upa Lokayukta, the High Court on Tuesday observed: “No matter how a retired judge had dealt with many serious cases and given good judgements, for the appointment as Lokayukta or Upa Lokayukta, one should have good character.”In the PILs filed on the basis of “confidential” communication, petitioners M Anand and Janagere Krishna, had contended that the appointment of Upa Lokayukta was illegal as the Chief Justice of the High Court was not consulted before the appointment, as per Lokayukta Act.Upa Lokayukta Justice Chandrashekaraiah had stated his appointment was made in strict compliance with the Lokayukta Act after the CM had sought opinions of Constitutional functionaries and the Chief Justice.The division bench posted the case to April 2.