Thaindian News

Gandhinagar, Aug 24 (IANS) The Gujarat government Wednesday set up a five-member cabinet committee to study the Lokpal Bill whenever it is passed by parliament and amend the state Lokayukta Act in accordance with its provisions.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Narendra Modi here.

The panel, chaired by Finance Minister Vajubhai Vala, will comprise Heath Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, Law Minister Dilip Sanghani, his minister of state Pradipsinh Jadeja and Minister of State for Planning Ranjit Gilitwala.

The move comes within days of the Gujarat High Court issuing notice to the state government seeking a status report on the appointment of the Lokayukta in Gujarat, a post which is lying vacant for more than seven years.

The last Lokayukta, retired high court judge S.M. Soni was appointed by Modi’s predecessor Keshubhai Patel in 1998 and retired in 2003. No one has been appointed since.

Attacking the government, state Congress chief Arjun Modvadia termed it as a “mockery of the constitutional system”, and alleged that Modi was using every trick to avoid appointing a Lokayukta who can probe the scams galore that have been taking place under his rule.

Modi had only last week announced the setting up of a judicial inquiry commission under a retired Supreme Court judge, M.B. Shah, to enquire into 17-point charges against him that the state Congress party submitted to President Pratibha Patil in June this year.