The Karnataka Lokayukta has moved the HC seeking permission to register fresh First Information Report (FIR)s under the Prevention of Corruption Act & other enactments. The power to register First Information Report (FIR)s had been withdrawn from Lokayukta police in Mar 2016 following the formation of Anti-Corruption Bureau.
In the interlocutory application (IA) filed before the court, the Lokayukta said that permission is needed to conduct investigation in all cases pending inquiry & in cases where First Information Report (FIR)s are yet to be filed.
According to the Lokayukta, a person wanting to register a complaint will be to inconvenience as Lokayukta police can no longer register the same. Another argument put forward by the Lokayukta was that it draws powers from the Karnataka Lokayukta Act, 1984, but Anti-Corruption Bureau has no such source of power.
On Wednesday, the counsel for Lokayukta mentioned about the interlocutory application & sought for direction on the same. A division bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar directed the govt advocate to submit a response by next Wednesday.
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