‘Verdict a setback to federalism’

NEW DELHI: Gujarat government’s petition against the appointment of the Lokayaukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal was on Wednesday dismissed by High Court Justice V M Sahai , who was given the task of hearing the challenge against the appointment of the Lokayukta, following the split verdict of a division bench.

“I am in complete agreement with the view taken by Justice Akil Kureshi that these writ petitions are to be dismissed,” said Justice Sahai.

The BJP on Wednesday termed the High Court’s decision a “setback to federalism”. Arguing that the verdict would hurt the institution of the Lokayukta, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said: “The governor is a nominee of Central Government. If a governor gets primacy over the State Government on the appointment of Lokayukta, it amounts to the Government of India appointing the Lokayukta.”

BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said the UPA government “had been misusing the office of the Governor to harass State governments ruled by the Opposition”, and the “present ruling would only encourage such tendencies.”

“This would be contested appropriately by the State government in the Supreme Court,” he said.The Congress, however, welcomed the High Court verdict. “This is yet another judicial confirmation of Modi’s hypocrisy and double standards of BJP. The High Court has rightly rebuffed such stalling and obstructionist tactics,” saidCongress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

On October 11, the division bench of the High Court had delivered a split verdict on the matter - while Justice

Kureshi had upheld the decision of the Governor, Justice Gokani had quashed warrant of appointment issued by the governor terming “unconstitutional”. After the split verdict, the matter was referred to Justice Sahai.