- In a setback to the Narendra Modi government, the Gujarat High Court, in a majority decision, upheld the appointment of the Lokayukta by the Governor while dismissing the plea of the State challenging it.
- Justice Kureshi had upheld the appointment of the Lokayukta calling it as “Constitutional”. “Hence, the government petition is dismissed”, the court said.
What had happened earlier?
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal had appointed retired Justice R.A. Mehta to the post of the Lokayukta on August 25, 2011. The post had been lying vacant for eight years prior to that.
The Gujarat government, led by Chief Minister Modi, had gone all out to oppose the appointment of the Lokayukta by the Governor for “bypassing the State government”.
The government had challenged the appointment the very next day in the High Court and had also unleashed a political campaign against the Governor.
