SC admits appeal against appointment of Gujarat Lokayukta
Gujarat Global News Network, Ahmedabad
Supreme Court today admitted Gujarat government’s appeal against High Court order upholding the appointment of Justice (Rtd) R A Mehta as Lokayukta of Gujarat. However, the division bench turned down state’s request for stay on the appointment. It will hear the matter for three days from March 20.
Narendra Modi government in Gujarat has moved the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order which declared that Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal was right in appointing Mehta as Lokayukta without taking Chief Minister into confidence. Modi government had moved High Court on the ground that Governor had no power to act independently.
The issue of appointment of Lokayukta was turned into a major political issue by ruling BJP and Opposition Congress. After taking over as Chief Minister, Modi did not appoint Lokayukta in Gujarat. As a result, Gujarat does not have Lokayukta after the retirement of S M Soni in 2003.
While Modi has blamed Congress for the situation alleging non cooperation by the Leader of Opposition, Congress claims that Modi does not want Lokayukta just to avoid any investigation in his billion rupee scandals. Modi is against the appointment of Mehta claiming that he is an activist and prejudiced.
On August 25 last year, Governor Beniwal appointed Mehta as Lokayukta. Earlier, she had asked Modi to appoint Lokayukta, but the Chief Minister did not respond to her request. Next day Modi government moved the High Court against the Governor’s action. There was a split judgment by a division bench. Third judge ruled in favour of the Governor.
The day after the judgment of High Court on January 18, Modi moved the Supreme Court against the order with a pray for stay on the order of Gujarat High Court. Today, the Supreme Court fixed date for detailed hearing, but did not grant stay. Justice Mehta has however not taken charge of the office of Lokayukta.
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