Centre, Gujarat government on collision course over new Lokayukta
27 Aug 2011
The Narendra Modi-led government has filed a petition in the Gujarat high court against the appointment of retired judge R A Mehta as Gujarat's Lokayukta (anti-corruption ombudsman) without consultation with the state government. The state government has sought urgent hearing on the manner in which the governor was trying to force the centre's agenda on the state government.
The appointment was announced in the wee hours of Friday by state governor Kamala Beniwal, an appointee of the Congress party, which is in control at the central government but in the opposition in BJP-ruled Gujarat.
"The hearing on the issue was inconclusive and will be resumed on 30 August," state government pleader in the high court Prakash Jani said later.
Under the Lokayukta Act, the governor has special powers to appoint a Lokayukta. Mehta was chosen with the concurrence of the chief justice of the state high court.
The post had been lying vacant for the past seven years since justice S M Soni resigned in 2003, soon after Narendra Modi and his BJP government was re-elected with a thumping majority.
The state government had earlier rejected the name of justice S D Dave; and refused to notify the appointment of Mehta in spite of two reminders from the governor.
.webp)
