Setback For Gujarat Government; HC Upheld Lokayukta Appointment

In a major setback for Narendra Modi government, the Gujarat High Court today upheld the appointment of Lokayukta by the Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal by dismissing the plea of the state.

Narendra Modi

For the last eight years the Lokayukta position in Gujarat was vacant. Gujarat governor Kamla Beniwal had appointed retired Justice R A Mehta to the post of Lokayukta on August 25, 2011.Chief minister Modi was very unhappy with governor’s decision and opposed the appointment of Lokayukta by stating it “bypassing the state government”. The Gujarat government eventually challenged Mehta’s appointment the day after in the High Court.

After a split verdict on the appointment issue on October 11, 2011 from the division bench of the High Court, Justice V M Sahai was given the authority to hear the petition and announce the final decision.

Justice V M Sahai announced R A Mehta’s appointment as Lokayukta  “constitutional” and “Hence, the government petition is dismissed”.

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