The state government has decided to fill up the post of the 'lokayukta' (ombudsman), which has been unoccupied for seven years in the state.
During the hearing of a petition seeking to appoint an ombudsman, the state government submitted that they had already begun the process and that it would be done in some time. The governor's consent is needed for appointing the lokayukta and the proposal is in the governor's office at the
moment.
After the state government's assurance, a division bench of justices Bhagwati Prasad and JC Upadhyaya disposed of the petition by recording the government's statement.
Petitioner Amit Jethva, through his advocate Vijay Nangesh, had submitted in the petition that, due to non-availability of ombudsmen (lokayukta) for seven years in the state, citizens are being forced to approach the high court for their grievances against public functionaries. This, in turn, increases the burden on the judiciary.
Jethva further said that an ombudsman is an important representative that the common man can approach, for complaints against the chief minister, other ministers and elected political leaders. However, the post, which can be filled by high court judges and has the same stature as a chief justice, has been lying vacant since 2003. The last ombudsman in the state was justice NP Mehta, and thereafter, the state government has not filled up the post.
Earlier, a division bench headed by chief justice SJ Mukhopadhyaya had said a 'not before me' to the petition, and had asked to place the case before another bench of Gujarat high court.
