Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill, 2013 is passed to curtail the role of Governor and Chief Justice of High Court

Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill, 2013 seeks to end the role of the Governor and the Chief Justice of the High Court in appointing the ombudsman.

The Bill proposes a seven-member selection panel headed by the Chief Minister, which will recommend a candidate for the Lokayukta’s post.

The members of the panel are the Chief Minister, A minister recommended the Chief Minister,the Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, a High Court judge nominated by the Chief Justice and the State Vigilance Commissioner.

The role of Governor is to ratify the recommendation made by the Panel.

The existing Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986, empowers the Governor to appoint the ombudsman in consultation with the Chief Justice and the Leader of Opposition.

There was difference of opinion between Governor Kamla Beniwal and Chief Minister Narendra Modi after the Governor appointed retired judge R.A. Mehta in August 2011 in consultation with the Chief Justice and the Leader of the Opposition, ignoring the Council of Ministers.

The government filed a case against this appointment but lost in the Supreme Court and review petition was also rejected.

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