Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court is expected to pronounce its order on a plea by the Narendra Modi government challenging the appointment of Mr RA Mehta as the state's Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal.
Modi government says the Governor bypassed the state government; it claimed during the arguments that the action was unconstitutional.
On August 25, the Governor had appointed Justice RA Mehta as the state's new Lokayukta. Since then, the Governor and the Modi government have been at loggerheads. She has returned as many as five bills in the last three years passed by the state Assembly.
Narendra Modi held a rally in the state last month to protest against the Governor's appointment.
The critical post had been lying vacant for seven years. The Governor reportedly consulted legal experts before choosing Mr Mehta. The BJP has challenged the appointment because Mr Modi and his government were not consulted. The party claims this violates Article 163 of the Constitution which states that the Governor of a state must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
The BJP feels this is a breach of federal principles and that the Governor is acting upon the instructions of the Union government.
Mr Modi had suggested that the Lokayukta be selected by a committee that included three ministers, the Leader of the Opposition Congress party, and the state's Chief Justice. The Governor had rejected that proposal.
In 2003, the last Gujarat Lokayukta SM Soni retired. It took the Modi government three years to approve a replacement suggestion. But three years later, the then Gujarat Governor rejected the suggestion on technical grounds.
Since then the Opposition Congress says it has submitted four suggestions but the BJP government says Opposition's lack of cooperation held up the appointment.
Modi government says the Governor bypassed the state government; it claimed during the arguments that the action was unconstitutional.
On August 25, the Governor had appointed Justice RA Mehta as the state's new Lokayukta. Since then, the Governor and the Modi government have been at loggerheads. She has returned as many as five bills in the last three years passed by the state Assembly.
The critical post had been lying vacant for seven years. The Governor reportedly consulted legal experts before choosing Mr Mehta. The BJP has challenged the appointment because Mr Modi and his government were not consulted. The party claims this violates Article 163 of the Constitution which states that the Governor of a state must act on the advice of the Council of Ministers.
Advertisement
Mr Modi had suggested that the Lokayukta be selected by a committee that included three ministers, the Leader of the Opposition Congress party, and the state's Chief Justice. The Governor had rejected that proposal.
Advertisement
Since then the Opposition Congress says it has submitted four suggestions but the BJP government says Opposition's lack of cooperation held up the appointment.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
PM Modi Urges Indian Olympians To Join 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' Campaign Aiming To Achieve Net Zero Emission In Railways By 2030: PM Modi In PM Modi's Independence Day Speech, A Call For "24x7 For 2047" Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death Two Sisters Returning From Court Run Over By Car In UP: Cops India Sends 1,400 kg Anti-Cancer Drugs To Syria In Humanitarian Assistance Police Arrest Suspect In Bihar Dalit Girl Kidnapping, Murder Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.