Mangaluru : Former Lokayukta N. Santosh Hegde has said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should resign over the Karnataka High Court’s verdict in connection with the MUDA case “in terms of propriety”, even though legally there is nothing wrong if he does not.

Talking to reporters in Mangaluru on Wednesday, Mr. Hegde said, “Whether to resign or not is left to the individual.” He recalled the then Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri resigning owning moral responsibility for the Ariyalur railway accident in 1956. “You will not see such actions now,” he said.

He further said, “I hope the agency that will investigate the case will discharge its duty in a just and diligent manner.”

On the prospect of the single judge’s order being challenged before a Divisional Bench of the High Court, Mr. Hegde said, “Seeing the observations made by the judge, it is highly unlikely that Mr. Siddaramaiah will get a favourable order in higher courts.”

Questioning the provision that makes it mandatory to get sanction to prosecute a public servant, Mr. Hegde said this provision was introduced by the British to protect government servants. “Why is this sanction necessary to prosecute public servants now? If a private citizen commits the same offence, no sanction is required. Courts proceed with the matter. Why not the same be applied for a public servant?”