Opting out of the Karnataka Lokayukta post, former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S R Bannurmath on Tuesday launched a tirade against Governor H R Bhardwaj for the "unverified and untrue" observations coming from Raj Bhavan against him that had "deeply hurt" him.

A day after Bhardwaj formally rejected the Government's proposal recommending him as Lokayukta and returned the file, Bannurmath told reporters here he has requested Chief Minister D V Sadananada Gowda not to consider him for the post so as to fill up the position expeditiously.

"After giving my anxious consideration, I have come to conclusion that I should convey to you immediately my request not to consider me ...," he said reading out from a letter he wrote to Gowda yesterday.

Bannurmath said the continued attack in the press on his integrity and character were totally based on "false, baseless, legally untenable and hurtful allegations".

"I have lost mental peace and my health is affected on account of false and baseless allegations affecting my image and reputation in the eyes of the public. I am not in a position to bear this torture and humiliation any more," he said.

After a three-month-long standoff with the BJP government, Bhardwaj had "formally" rejected its recommendation on Bannurmath's appointment, which was held up over a land allotment controversy.

The post of Lokayukta has remained vacant since September 19 after former Supreme Court Judge Shivaraj Patil, who succeeded Santosh Hegde, quit in the wake of allegations of getting land allotment in violation of rules.

Bannurmath said the latest statement of Bhardwaj that he rejected his appointment as Lokayukta for other reasons besides the land scam could only be seen as "a ploy to give way for other political consideration".

"Such a vague and false statement does not give me an opportunity to answer it," he rued.

Attacking Bhardwaj, he asked "is there is no code of decent conduct expected to be followed and respected by high Constitutional functionaries in the matter of making public allegations against a person being considered for the Lokayukta appointment?"

"Are there no sanctions against the high constitutional functionaries to protect the image of an 'innocent' person like me," he questioned asserting his appointment was not based on community considerations, but on his competence and "spotless" character

Bannurmath said he was appointed in 1990 as the state public prosecutor when late S Bangarappa was the chief minister and continued in the same capacity in successive regimes of Veerappa Moily, Deve Gowda and late J H Patel, who belonged to different communities. "As such my appointment was based on my competence." 

Bannurmath said he would not have been appointed as Karnataka High Court judge and Kerala Chief Justice had there been any doubts about he being communal. "All the statutory and constitutional posts held by me were not because I am a Lingayat or belonged to any political party or leader."

He said these "personal and reckless" allegations made by the Governor raised doubt and many questions which call for effective answers.

Bannurmath also raised questions behind levelling charges against him saying "is it because important persons involved in scams will be exposed by an independent and upright Lokayukta...Are these motivated allegations being made on account of political and extraneous considerations.

Clearing the air on his perceived proximity to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, Bannurmath said he was neither related to him nor was his friend and had no political connections with him. "... I do not belong to any political party, nor do I have any political affiliations to any politician."

Bannurmath said "after a spotless, clean and blemishless" legal career of 38 years, he had settled down in the house constructed on a site legally purchased in city's Judicial Layout.