Karnataka Lokayukta Flags 100 Lawmakers for Failing to Declare Assets
The Karnataka Lokayukta has identified 100 state lawmakers—66 MLAs and 28 MLCs—who did not disclose their own and their family members’ assets for the year 2024–25. These declarations were due by the statutory deadline of June 30.
Legal Requirements for Asset Declaration
Section 22(1) of the Karnataka Lokayukta bill requires every public servant to declare assets of themselves and their families by June 30 each year. The Lokayukta also has the authority to publish a list of those who fail to comply, as per the bill’s second clause.
Officials Named on the Non-Compliance List
The published list includes lawmakers across party lines as well as five cabinet ministers:
- K H Muniyappa, Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs
- Dinesh Gundu Rao, Minister of Health and Family Welfare
- Zameer Ahmed Khan, Minister for Housing, Works and Minorities
- Rahim Khan, Minister of Hajj and Municipal Administration
- K Venkatesh, Minister of Animal Husbandry and Sericulture
Extent of Non-Compliance
According to the Lokayukta, 30% of MLAs and 37% of MLCs in Karnataka have not submitted their asset declarations. Lawmakers from major parties including the ruling Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Janata Dal (Secular) are all included on the list.
“Section 22 (1) of the Karnataka Lokayukta bill mandates that every public servant shall declare their own and their families’ assets by June 30.”
“The Lokayukta is empowered to publish a list of non-compliant public servants after the deadline has passed.”
Author’s summary: One-third of Karnataka lawmakers, including five cabinet ministers from all major parties, failed to file their asset declarations by the mandated June 30 deadline for 2024–25.