After all the high - pitched drama, Justice N. Santhosh Hegde has withdrawn his resignation. He is back, that’s good. But his reason for withdrawing resignation is bad. Justice Santhosh Hegde resigned in frustration as the Lokayukta did not have powers to take cases to their logical end. It was the final straw when the Dy. Conservator of Forests (DCF) in Karwar was suspended after he seized illegally transported iron ore. Since the DCF had done his job with the co - operation of the Lokayukta, he was suspended. Justice Hegde said his resignation was a mark of protest to protect the man who had acted on his behalf.

Justice Hedge did not budge even when Home Minister P. Chidambaram requested him to withdraw his resignation. Instead, he replied, “No way am I going to withdraw my resignation. I am not that fickle - minded to resign over an issue and then withdraw and make it a tool for gaining publicity. The decision was taken after great deliberation with my family.” But just a few days later, our beloved Lokayukta has done a volte - face.

Yes, indeed we appreciate, respect and welcome him back but does he have the same sentiment towards us? This question has risen in our minds due to the reason he gave for his withdrawal of resignation: “L. K. Advani is like a father to me”. Justice Hegde seems to worry more about the feelings of his “father” than the doubts he has cast in the minds and hearts of Kannadigas.

He said, “The respect I have for L. K. Advani has forced me to withdraw my resignation. It is not out of political pressure that I took this decision. For me, Advani is like a father. He was a close friend of my father (former Lok Sabha Speaker late K. S. Hegde). I cannot go against his wish. I have to accede to his request not for any political reason, but because of the love and respect I have for Advani.”

But what about the love and respect of the people of Karnataka, Mr. Justice? We love you too, we too begged you not to resign and we needed you to clean up our system. But alas, looks like Advani needs you too. But we seriously doubt it is to cleanse our corrupt system.

It is reported that Advani has instructed the State BJP government to give Lokayukta the powers requested by Hegde. But this morning, three days after Hegde withdrew his resignation, he said, “It looks like the political parties have shown no interest in giving powers to the Lokayukta to take up investigative action against the political class. Even those parties which expressed their support over the suo moto powers have not shown any interest” and more importantly he added, “I will show the people of Karnataka that even with these curtailed powers, I can perform.” Why couldn't the Lokayukta say the same thing before instead of resigning and creating all the drama? He did not have powers then, he does not have powers now, so what has changed?

Justice Santhosh Hegde should have come back for us, the people, and not because L. K. Advani asked him to. With this, it makes us question how sincerely the Lokayukta can now perform. Justice Hegde said he had trouble with the mining lords. But it is known that the mining lords have pumped in a lot of money into our State's ruling party. In fact they were instrumental in bringing BJP to power, the same party of which his “feel good father” Advani is the god father. So will the Justice heed to Advani's future requests, which may include not disrupting his party’s funding pipeline which originates from the mine lords? Seems like Justice Hegde has succumbed to his emotions rather than living up to his words of not being a “fickle – minded” person.

We Indians are generally a little more sentimental and emotional. Some are even more. When in college, we had a junior named Shankar who, when he wanted something, would get sentimental and begin his request with, “You are like my brother, man….” So we named him “Senti – Shankar”. To go with it, there was a girl who was very touché, so we named her “Senti – Savitri”. Too bad she also began her request with a “You are like my brother” line.

The point is, most of us are either obsessed in making the whole nation our relatives or are unaware that by using certain terms, we are in a way making ourselves related. Aunty and Uncle are two nouns that are so liberally used that they have now become prefixes such as front house aunty, doctor aunty, etc. The real names, nobody knows. The older people also use terms such as “beta” or “paapu” to negotiate or express affection. Looks like it worked on Justice Hegde.

We understand Justice Hedge is an emotional man, but he must think that by succumbing to his feelings, he has also shot himself in the leg. He is back, but his back is still against the wall. Nothing has changed. His resignation sent a message that our system needs a serious re - haul. His withdrawal reminds us that the emotions of senior officials also need a serious rethink. One man's emotion should not jeopardise a whole State's hopes and aspirations.

In any civil society where an official is at the service of the people, his decision, his sense of morality, his sense of service must always be based and guided by the principle of “public good first.”

After the British troops were sent to Iraq, Tony Blair was asked if it was a mistake and he replied that God would judge him. To this, his voters held placards saying, “We voted for you to protect us, so we will judge you. Not God”.

That is why it is important for a decision - maker, especially one who can change lives and society, to base his decisions on sound logic and information while keeping emotional attachments and sentiments at a non - intrusive distance. Or else it becomes a social liability.

Vikram Muthanna
vikram@starofmysore.com
Courtesy: Star of Mysore