Narendra Modi rejects Lok Ayukta

The differences between the Narendra Modi government and the constitutional head of the state, the governor, seem to be coming to the fore. Governor Dr Kamala used her special powers to appoint retired justice RA Mehta as the lokayukta of Gujarat.

The post had been empty for the past seven years since justice SM Soni completed his term in 2003.

The state government had earlier rejected the name of justice SD Dave and no notification for the appointment of

Mehta was being done in spite of two reminders.
Modi has decided to challenge the appointment in the high court, requesting an urgent hearing within an hour of filing the petition.

The governor invoked her special powers under the Lokayukta Act and issued a notification appointing Mehta.

There has been much controversy over the vacant post following Anna Hazare’s movement. The ruling party has blamed opposition leader Shaktisinh Gohil for not coming to the table to discuss the issue.

On the other hand, the opposition has maintained that the government has no role to play in the appointment of the lokayukta as the recommendation has to be made by the chief justice, governor and the leader of opposition.

The appointment assumes significance as the Congress has levelled serious allegations of corruptions in 17 instances to the tune of Rs1 lakh crore against the Modi government.

The state government appointed its own commission to probe charges against it. The Congress has alleged that the government appointed a team to escape an independent inquiry by the lokayukta.