BJP flays Gujarat Lokayukta appointment
August 27th, 2011 - 8:38 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Aug 27 (IANS) As parliament debated the Lokpal bill Saturday, opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used the opportunity to vent its anger on the appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat “bypassing” the state government.
The issue was first raised in the Lok Sabha by Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who said the state government was bypassed by the governor.
“State government was totally bypassed in appointing the Lokayukta,” she said.
She said the governor earlier sat on the file for appointing Lokayukta for six years, and then bypassed the government in appointing one.
“People say why Lokayukta was not appointed in Gujarat,” Sushma Swaraj said. “Gujarat chief minister submitted the name to governor after getting it approved from the chief justice (Gujarat high court) and the leader of opposition. That file was not forwarded for six years. The same person was later taken in the Maharashtra SHRC (State Human Rights Commission), but was not made the Lokayukta of Gujarat”.
“Later, when the meeting was called, the leader of opposition did not come. And yesterday, bypassing the whole government, the governor appointed a Lokpal,” she said.
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal Friday appointed retired judge R.A. Mehta as the state Lokayukta, a decision which was swiftly challenged by the state government in the Gujarat High Court.
In the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said the incident brought a “bad name” to the institution of Lokpal.
“In some states, elected government is totally bypassed… and Lokayukta is appointed,” he said.
He said that it was a matter of concern how a constitutional body can be misused to defeat the political opponent.
“It can lead to death of Lokpal institution before it is created,” he said.
However, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee intervened and said he agreed that the Lokayukta should be appointed by the state legislature.
“Here I entirely agree with you that the Lokayukta will have to be appointed by state legislature,” he said.
Appointment of Lokayuktas under the Lokpal bill is one of the points of contention between the government and activists.
- Samajwadi Party disapproves the way Gujarat Lokayukta was appointed - Sep 06, 2011
- BJP asks president to intervene in Gujarat Lokayukta issue - Sep 02, 2011
- Court's Gujarat Lokayukta order harms federalism: BJP (Lead) - Jan 19, 2012
- BJP demands recall of Gujarat governor over Lokayukta - Aug 30, 2011
- BJP not serious in fighting corruption, says Congress - Jan 18, 2012
- Gujarat Lokayukta's appointment upheld by high court (Third lead) - Jan 18, 2012
- BJP meets president, demands Gujarat governor's removal - May 30, 2012
- Gujarat High Court asks state to revise Lokayukta petition - Aug 29, 2011
- Lokayukta's appointment: Gujarat government moves Supreme Court - Jan 19, 2012
- Gujarat Lokayukta's appointment upheld by high court (Second lead) - Jan 18, 2012
- Gujarat Lokayukta: Subversion of constitution or sticking to rules? - Sep 06, 2011
- Jurists differ on controversial Gujarat Lokayukta appointment - Sep 05, 2011
- Modi writes to PM, demands recall of governor - Sep 01, 2011
- Congress delegation from Gujarat meets President - Sep 07, 2011
- Gujarat to move apex court on Lokayukta Thursday (Lead) - Jan 18, 2012
Tags: arun jaitley, bjp, chief justice, chief minister, constitutional body, gujarat high court, human rights commission, kamla, leader of opposition, Lok Sabha, lokayukta, maharashtra, mehta, one people, political opponent, pranab mukherjee, rajya sabha, state government, state legislature, sushma swaraj