Gujarat gets Lokayukta, state govt moves HC

After seven years, Gujarat finally has a Lokayukta. Bypassing the state government, Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal on Friday appointed retired justice R A Mehta as the state’s Lokayukta.

The government, on the other hand, has challenged the appointment in the Gujarat High Court. “This is an unprecedented move. The governor has bypassed the state government and appointed retired high court judge R A Mehta as the Lokayukta of Gujarat,” said Shaktisinh Gohil, leader of the opposition in the state assembly. He said the governor, after detailed legal consultations, appointed Mehta by issuing a notification late Thursday night.

After the state govt moved the high court, justice Abhilasha Kumari asked the government counsel to explain why the government was challenging an order issued by the governor. A hearing on the case is scheduled for August 30.

Gujarat High Court Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya had recommended Mehta’s name for the Lokayukta’s post to the state government. However, so far, the government had delayed the appointment. The state Congress party had alleged the state government was deliberately attempting to delay the appointment of the state Lokayukta. Gohil had earlier led a delegation of Congress MLAs to the governor and handed over a memorandum regarding the matter to her. “The governor told us the delay in appointing a Lokayukta for the last seven years was a matter of concern, since there was no authority to look into government affairs,” Gohil said.

According to the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, the governor has the power to appoint the state Lokayukta on the recommendation of the chief justice of the Gujarat High Court. The Gujarat government has no role to play in the appointment of the Lokayukta, Gohil said.