Lokayukta Hegde says better governance in India needs 90 percent voting

MANGALORE - Lokayukta N Santhosh Hegde said here yesterday that a minimum of 90 percent voting by Indians is necessary for better governance and end all the malices in the country. .

Delivering the founder’s day lecture of the Karnataka Bank here Justice Hegde said the people became irrelevant in a democracy if people’s representatives involved themselves in activities, which people do not want.

It was necessary for citizens to exercise their franchise and elect the right candidate. Justice Hegde opposed the suggestion that there should be a “none of the above” button in Electoral Voting Machine.

“Such addition will be equal for not voting.” He said that it would be good to make voting compulsory and suggested that youngsters should take the lead in voting. That would stop the growth of malice what we are experiencing now, he added.

Justice Hegde said that a person who really wants serve for the people need not have to spend money in elections or purchase voters. At present an estimate is that 25 percent of voters were purchased during the elections

Justice Hegde wanted the rich to help the poor and deprived class who did not have facilities for even a bucketfull of water for their daily use. He said that democracy has lost its real meaning and has become “for some people, by some people”.

There was need for better governance and pro-people administration to ensure democracy. He said that bureaucracy and politics have become conjoined twins.

Politicians misuse their power in transferring officials. Officials want corrupt persons in and around them to continue their practice of receiving bribes, he said.

Justice Hegde suggested that transfer of officials should be done without interference of politicians and the Chief Secretary should take the responsibility for the transfers. ” Each government employee enters to the government service with the oath to serve anywhere but still he wants transfer.” ‘

“If anybody is not satisfied with the decision of Chief Secretary he can fight in Karntataka Administrative Tribunal rather than using politicians. I had visited 209 schools to interact with students to create awareness on corruption,” he added.

Justice Hegde was received by Karnakata Bank Chairman Ananthakrishna and Managing Director P Jayaram Bhat.

Padmshri Sudha Raghunathan Chennai performed vocal recital as part of the 87th founders day of the Karnataka Bank. (ANI)