The state government said on Wednesday that it would soon implement the Supreme Court order upholding Governor Dr Kamla’s decision to appoint justice (retired) RA Mehta as Gujarat Lokayukta.
“We will soon implement the Supreme Court judgment on appointment of Lokayukta. A detailed reaction on the issue will be given after we have carefully studied the judgment,” state law minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma said in Gandhinagar.
Chudasma was speaking to reporters gathered for the chief minister’s post-Diwali luncheon.
The newly appointed minister, however, pointed out that the Supreme Court has accepted the state government’s contention that the governor has to act as per the advice of the council of ministers.
State BJP spokesperson Vijay Rupani declined a comment, saying, “Let us get a copy of the Supreme Court verdict first. We will study it and then comment on the issue.”
In a setback to the Narendra Modi government, the Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld RA Mehta’s appointment as the state Lokayukta, saying it was done in consultation with the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court. The state government had challenged the order on the grounds that the governor had acted unilaterally in the Lokayukta’s appointment. The Governor had appointed Mehta as the Lokayukta on August 25, 2011.
After SC’s verdict, the next step would be administering him the oath by the Governor. Sources in the Raj Bhavan said that a date for the ceremony is yet to be finalised.
