Lucknow: Press Council Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Tuesday trashed the idea of setting up Lokpal saying it was "completely unworkable" and the proposed anti-graft body would not be able to cope with the lakhs of complaints it may receive.
"Lakhs of complaints will come which cannot be handled by one person, therefore 55,000 Lokpals would be required. Lokpal would be required in every district," Katju told reporters, adding he had been silent on the issue till now as people would say that he was "supporting corruption".
"What is the guarantee that they would not turn corrupt? I feel that they would definitely become blackmailers," Katju said.
"You want to create a parallel bureaucracy then how will the government fuction..this is completely unworkable," he said.
Katju said that as there are over 50 lakh government employees and lakhs of complaints may be filed which cannot be handled by one person.
Justice Katju said this would involve infrastructure and expenditure including salary, accommodation, staff and office place.
"Till now I was silent as I thought people would say that I am supporting corruption, but common sense has to be used," he said.
He, however, praised Anna Hazare.
"To me Anna Hazare seems to be an honest man, but he does not have a scientific approach," Katju said.
"Are problems solved by slogan shouting. From my point of view as far as Jan Lokpal in concerned no government will be able to function under it," he said.
Praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Justice Katju said that he should be given sometime to perform before making any assessment.
"A new government with a young CM has been formed in UP, but even before oath ceremony channels started saying goondaraj which is an irresponsible, unfair act and demoralising," he said.
The PCI chairman said that Akhilesh should be given sometime for an year or two after which his performance should be assessed.
"Anti-social elements are everywhere. Akhilesh has taken acted against such elements and has assured that strong action will be taken," he said.
"But even before the government's tenure started it has been condemned which is irresponsible," he said.
Justice Katju said that he met Akhilesh and felt that he is an enlightened man with modern views and he should be given time to perform and settle down.
"If after an year you feel that performance is not good then criticise, but give time and let the government settle down...give him time to perform," he said.
The chairman said that for the first time council has decided to give National Award for Excellence in Journalism on national Press Day on November 16.
"This award will be given every year in different categories," he said.
Meanwhile, a commotion broke out during the Katju's media interaction when some journalists tried to draw attention of the chairman towards issues related to the journalism fraternity.
During their bid, some journalists started making personal comments on each other leading to the commotion between two groups.
Some of them jumped from their seats and raced towards empty area between the dais and started shouting.
The brief bursts of verbal dual subsided after chairman Katju intervened and requested both sides to calm down.
Katju, who is on a four-day visit to the state capital, had organised the meet here.
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