M A I N   N E W S

Setback for Modi
HC upholds Lokayukta’s appointment

Ahmedabad, January 18
In a blow to Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the Gujarat High Court today upheld the appointment of Lokayukta by the Governor, rejecting the state government's plea, three months after it gave a split verdict.

The Gujarat Government said it would appeal against the 2 to 1 majority decision in the Supreme Court after seeking legal advice.

Its petition was dismissed today by Justice VM Sahai, who was given the task of hearing the challenge against the appointment of Lokayukta following the split verdict of a Division Bench.

Modi had maintained that Governor Kamla Beniwal acted unconstitutionally in selecting the ombudsman as the state government had not been consulted.Beniwal had appointed retired judge Justice RA Mehta to the post of Lokayukta on August 25 triggering a confrontation with the state government. The post had been lying vacant for eight years prior to that since November 2003.

Meanwhile, the BJP described the HC verdict as a jolt to federalism and the institution of the Lokayukta and Lokpal. “The divided judgment of the Gujarat HC is a setback for federalism,” said BJP leader Arun Jaitley. The Congress welcomed the verdict and termed it as judicial confirmation of the “double standards” being adopted by Modi and the BJP. — PTI

Gujarat to move SC today

New Delhi: The Gujarat Government plans to move the Supreme Court on Thursday for suspension of the state high court order that upheld the appointment of Justice (retd) RA Mehta as the Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal, a lawyer said.