Gujarat High Court bench split over Lokayukta verdict

Ahmedabad, 10 October, 2011

There’s split over Lokayukta verdict in Gujarat High Court. While Justice Akil Qureshi validated Lokayukta appointment, Justice Soniaben Gokani refused to validate. Justice Sonia Gokani said, “I do not not completely agree with my fellow judge.” She started reading out her judgment but did not not complete it when the court rose for the day. She would continue tomorrow.

While tomorrow’s judgement of Justice Gokani is likely to make the situation more clear, the case at this point is seeming to go to third judge through the Chief Justice or it can even go to larger bench of three judges, one of them could be the acting Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court.

The case is about Gujarat government challenging Gujarat Governor’s alleged unilateral decision to appoint Lokayukta in the state without consulting state council of ministers. An appointment of Lokayukta was declared by opposition leader before media in Gandhinagar after meeting the Governor. Newly appointed Lokayukta retired Justice RA Mehta who has been occasionally spotted in the events organized by anti-Modi activists has not taken oath to take charge of his office after his appointment due to ongoing court battle between the Governor and the government on the issue of his appointment. Mehta also didn’t react to notice issued by the court.