On August 11, the High Court had abolished the ACB, while noting that it was established by the State government in a bid to shield corrupt politicians, ministers and officers from the watchful eyes of the Lokayukta.
A Division Bench of Justices B Veerappa and KS Hemalekha opined that the field occupied by the Karnataka Lokayukta Act was eroded by the constitution of the ACB. It, therefore, quashed a State government order of 2016 creating the ACB.
“The very constitution of ACB by the government is to shield the corrupt politicians, ministers, and the officers from the watchful eyes of the Lokayukta and that Government is weakening the institution of Lokayukta to protect these persons from prosecution, inter alia under the provisions of the PC Act,” the judgment said.
Source: Barandbench
