If its Hegde again, will readily sign: Bhardwaj

BANGALORE: Governor H R Bhardwaj has said that he was not to be held responsible for the delay in the appointment of the Karnataka Lokayukta. “If Santosh Hegde’s name comes up, I will sign the appointment immediately. I will not make the mistake of appointing the wrong person,” he said, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.“I will not be a silent spectator. Let them (government) think what they want. It is my duty to uphold the law in the interest of the public. I will not allow an irresponsible, tainted and ineligible person to become Lokayukta,” the Governor said.  Bhardwaj, who has rejected former Kerala Chief Justice S R Bannurmath’s name, said that he needs to make the appointment after a lot of consideration as the Lokayukta is a “very important institution”.  He further advised the government to seek expert opinion on the Constitutional guidelines, adding, “The Lokayukta is an independent body and the nominee is also a free person. I will follow Constitutional guidelines, without bowing to any pressure.”