Gujarat finally gets a Lokayukta

Gujarat is set to have a Lokayukta after more than a decade, and one could be in the place as early as next week. Governor Dr Kamla on Friday accepted the council of ministers’ recommendation to appoint justice (retired) DP Buch’s name for the anti-corruption watchdog’s post. The governor’s approval clears any possible hurdles that could have come in the way of Buch’s appointment as Gujarat’s fourth Lokayukta.

 “Yes, the governor has accepted the council of ministers’ recommendation and approved appointment of justice DP Buch as the Lokayukta,” state government spokesperson Nitin Patel, said.

An official in the Raj Bhavan confirmed that governor Dr Kamla has approved justice Buch’s name for Lokayukta’s post. His term as Lokayukta would be for five years.

Subsequent to the governor’s approval to justice Buch’s appointment as Lokayukta, the state government will now make arrangements for administering oath of office to him. “Justice Buch’s swearing-in as Lokayukta will take place soon in consultation with Raj Bhavan at a mutually convenient date,” Patel said.

Governor Dr Kamla’s approval to justice Buch’s appointment as Lokayukta brings to an end the decade when Gujarat did not have the anti-corruption watchdog. It also comes close on the heels of the various twists and turns in appointment of justice (retired) RA Mehta as Lokayukta by the governor, the government’s opposition to it, the legal battle that followed, and finally justice Mehta’s decision to decline the post.

Senior government officials said that dates were being identified, but said that the swearing-in ceremony could take place as early as next week.

It is worth mentioning that the council of ministers had recommended justice Buch’s name as Lokayukta only on Wednesday. Earlier, chief justice of Gujarat high court, Bhaskar Bhattacharya had advised the council to appoint justice Buch as Lokayukta. A formal recommendation of the council of ministers with regards to the matter was sent to the Raj Bhavan only on Thursday, and it was approved by the governor within 24 hours.

Unlike in the case of justice Mehta, whose appointment as Lokayukta was opposed tooth and nail by the government, justice Buch’s name has also been accepted by the opposition Congress.

Will function as per law: Buch
Justice DP Buch said on Friday that he would function as the Lokayukta in accordance with the law. “It’s a big responsibility, and I have accepted it. I will function according to the law, evidence and precedent,” justice Buch said reacting to the development, hours after his appointment as Lokayukta was approved by governor Dr Kamla.

The former high court judge admitted that he was not well-versed with the nitty-gritty of the functions and responsibilities of the Lokayukta yet, but added that he would act as per the law.

Buch will be fourth Lokayukta
Justice (retired) DP Buch will be the fourth Lokayukta of Gujarat, and the first one in more than a decade. Justice DH Shukla was the first Lokayukta of the state and he served from 1988 to 1993. He was followed by justice IC Bhatt whose tenure was from 1993 to 1998.

The tenure of justice SM Soni, who was the third and till date the last Lokayukta of Gujarat, was from 1998 to 2003. Justice Buch will be the fourth person to occupy the post of Lokayukta of the state.

Know your Lokayukta
DP Buch, now 71, commands 38 years of rich legal experience working in various capacities — as an advocate to a judge — earning himself a reputation of being a clean man who had handled almost all legal spheres — from civil and criminal to revenue.