Retired Justice DP Buch: Gujarat’s fourth Lokayukta

December 16, 2013

Retired High Court Judge DP Buch was sworn as the fourth Lokayukta of the Gujarat by Governor Kamla Beniwal, on the post that was lying vacant for a decade and over which Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Governor Kamla Beniwal were on a collision course for three years.

What was the dispute between CM Narendra Modi and Governor, over the issue of appointment of Lokayukta?

The issue triggered a major controversy when the Governor appointed Justice (retd) R.A. Mehta as Lokayukta on August 25, 2011, without consulting the state government. This led to a long-drawn legal battle that reached the Supreme Court, which later on preserved the Governor’s decision. But after wining the legal battle over the appointment, Mr. Justice Mehta rejected to take charge of Lokayukta in August, 2013 because the government didn’t accept his objectivity and credibility.

About Lokayukta

Lokayukta is an anti-corruption investigator organization in the Indian states. The institution of Lokayukta has been set up to inquire into the allegations against Public Functionaries in the State and for matters connected therewith.

Note: The anti-corruption investigator post of Gujarat was lying vacant since the last officer, Justice R M Soni’s term expired in December 2003.

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