Says he doesn’t want to get into a controversy; will take a decision in the next few days.
If the state government was planning to appoint a judicial inquiry into 17 corruption charges levelled by the opposition Congress, before the newly appointed Lok Ayukta looks into them, it might have to wait a tad longer.
Chief minister Narendra Modi had set up an enquiry commission on August 17 with retired apex court judge Justice Shah as its chairman. Earlier, while talking to DNA, Justice MB Shah had confirmed that he had agreed to head the commission. "Yes, the state government had approached me some days back, and I have agreed to head the Enquiry Commission to probe the allegations made by the Congress," Shah had said after the announcement.
But there are indications that the retired judge has not yet sent a formal yes to the appointment. He is learnt to be keen to ensure that steers clear of any controversy over his appointment as chairman of the commission. Talking to DNA on Saturday, Justice Shah said that he is not sure he will take up the job. "I have not decided anything yet as I do not want to get into a controversy," he said.
Justice Shah, 73, was elevated as judge of Mumbai high court in 1983. He retired as Supreme Court judge in 2003. After that he was made chairman of the National Consumer Redressal Commission (NCRC). He is also the vice-chairman of the Special Investigations Team (SIT) constituted to monitor the probe into black money stashed abroad.
The Congress had recently submitted to the President a list of 17 serious charges against the state government. Of the 17 charges, two are sub-judice and, therefore, are out of the ambit of the commission. The commission has to complete its enquiry and submit its report to the state government by March 31, 2012. The Congress had made a hue and cry when the state government set up the commission and had accused the Modi government of trying to avoid appointing a Lokayukta who could also investigate into all the corruption charges.
Justice Shah told DNA that, "I can't say yes or no. Why should I allow myself to get into a controversy? There has never been a blot on my name all through my career. I will take a decision in the next few days. The government cannot prevent a controversy on the issue."
Justice Shah has already received the government notification appointing him as chairman of the enquiry commission.
The allegations the commission will enquire into include favoritism towards certain industrial houses and whether the government had been negligent in such matters. It also has to study and compare with other states the manner in which land was allotted to industries, and analyse various tax concessions given in Gujarat vis-à-vis other states. It will look into the special relaxations given to industrial houses by successive state governments since 1980.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}