Jaitley for clarity on consultation process for Ombudsman post
15 Jan 2013 1:50 AM GMT
Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley on Monday in an article wrote that the conflicting Supreme Court judgements on the appointment of Gujarat Lokayukta and Karnataka Upa Lokayukta have created ambiguity which needed to be removed to bring clarity on the issue of consultation process in appointing the Ombudsman.
‘Within a period of nine days two clearly conflicting opinions on the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta have been expressed by the SC. How can the law in Gujarat be different than the law in any other state,’ wrote Jaitley.
In a blow to the Narendra Modi government, the apex court on 2 January had upheld the appointment of Justice (retd) R A Mehta as Gujarat Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal, while noting that the post lying vacant for nine years reflected a very sorry state of affairs. While on 11 January, the apex court had set aside the appointment of Justice (retd) Chandrashekaraiah as Upa Lokayukta of Karnataka on the ground that he was appointed by the government without consultation with the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.
‘Within a period of nine days two clearly conflicting opinions on the appointment of Lokayukta and Upa Lokayukta have been expressed by the SC. How can the law in Gujarat be different than the law in any other state,’ wrote Jaitley.
In a blow to the Narendra Modi government, the apex court on 2 January had upheld the appointment of Justice (retd) R A Mehta as Gujarat Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal, while noting that the post lying vacant for nine years reflected a very sorry state of affairs. While on 11 January, the apex court had set aside the appointment of Justice (retd) Chandrashekaraiah as Upa Lokayukta of Karnataka on the ground that he was appointed by the government without consultation with the Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court.
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