Mysuru: Maintaining that the land reforms brought about by former Chief Minister Late D. Devaraj Urs had personally helped him, Lokayukta Justice P. Vishwanath Shetty has said the land reforms had benefited many landless families.

He was speaking at ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ award programme organised jointly by Ursu Jagruta Academy and Ursu Patrike and Karnataka Vaidya Sahitya Parishat to mark D. Devaraj Urs birth anniversary at the Institution of Engineers on JLB Road here yesterday.

Pointing out although the land reforms had helped him, individually it had severely hurt the rich landlords.

Pointing out that he began his career as an advocate, Justice Shetty said the some land losers had approached him questioning the Land Reforms Act, while also demanding land for themselves. As he took up these cases, his wealth too significantly increased, he said jokingly.

Observing that Devaraj Urs had strived very hard for removing disparity in the society, he said that the society needed hundreds of Devaraj Urs for transforming it.

Giving an incident relating to his son, Justice Shetty stressed on the need for teaching good things to children at an young age and the onus on achieving this rests on the parents and teachers.

Achievers from various fields- Senior writer Prof. K. Bhyravamurthy, Dr. Lakshminaryan (Medical Service), Kemparaje Urs (Engineering), M.D. Ravindra Kumar (Instrumental Music),Shantha Raje Urs (Postal Services), B.K. Raje Urs (Sports) A.S. Mukesh (Traditional forms of medicine) and Amarnathraje Urs (Architecture) were conferred ‘Dhwani Kotta Dhani’ awards on the occasion.

Mysuru Lac & Paints Chairman H.A. Venkatesh, former CM Late D. Devaraj Urs’s grandson Sooraj M.N. Hegde, Karnataka Vaidya-Sahitya Parishat President Dr. C. Sharath Kumar, MCCI President A.S. Satish, Dasti Educational Institutions President Dr. D. Thimmaiah, writer Prof. Odeyar D. Hegde and others were present.

ACB has not weakened Lokayukta institution: Justice Shetty.

Earlier speaking to press persons at the Government Guest House  yesterday, Justice Shetty asserted that the constitution of the ACB (Anti-Corruption Bureau) had not weakened the Lokayukta.

Stating that the Lokayukta still has the same powers as that of the ACB, he said that the credibility of an Institution rests with the officials. Referring to the status of probe in the Palace gold leafing scam, the Lokayukta said the matter was in the court. He also welcomed the CBI court verdict in Baba Ram Rahim rape case.