The Karnataka Lokayukta commemorated four decades of its institutional journey with an inaugural event held at Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, marking its enduring role in redressing grievances and combating corruption in the State.

Delivering the inaugural address, the Chief Justice of India, Justice Suryakant highlighted that accountability remains the “essence of democracy,” emphasising that governance derives legitimacy not merely from electoral mandates but from transparency, accessibility, and responsible exercise of power.

Tracing the philosophical roots of accountability in Indian governance traditions, the address highlighted that public authority has historically been viewed as a form of trust rather than ownership. Institutions such as the Lokayukta, it was noted, give contemporary expression to this principle by ensuring that power remains open to scrutiny and responsive to citizens.

Over the past forty years, the Karnataka Lokayukta has emerged as one of the most significant oversight bodies in the country, addressing a wide spectrum of issues ranging from corruption and maladministration to delays in public service delivery. Its independent investigative framework, including the ability to act on complaints, initiate inquiries, and recommend prosecution, has contributed to strengthening public confidence in governance systems.

Highlighting the evolving expectations of citizens in a modern democracy, the Chief Justice stressed the importance of making governance processes more visible and understandable. In this context, the inauguration of a digitised portal enabling public access to the asset and liability disclosures of elected representatives was described as a significant step towards embedding transparency in everyday governance.