D P Buch appointed new Lokayukta

The swearing-in is likely to be on December 3.

Justice (retd) D P Buch has been appointed the new Lokayukta of Gujarat,after Governor Kamla Beniwal approved his name on Friday,paving the way for filling up the post which has been lying vacant for over a decade now. Buchs name was forwarded to Beniwal by the Council of Ministers that had approved it on the recommendation of the Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and the Leader of Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela. Beniwal issued warrant in this regard on Friday.

The governor has signed the warrant in favour of Justice Buch and forwarded it to the General Administration Department. The department will invite Buch on Saturday to take the post and seek time to hold oath-taking ceremony, said government spokesperson Nitin Patel. The swearing-in is likely to be on December 3.

The Gujarat Cabinet on Wednesday had finalised the name of Buch as the new Lokayukta under the Gujarat Lokayukta Act,1986. The appointment of Buch comes three months after Justice (retd) R A Mehta refused to take up the post. The issue of appointment of Lokayukta had triggered a major controversy after the Governor had appointed Justice (retd) R A Mehta as Lokayukta on August 25,2011.

This had led to a long-drawn legal battle,with the Modi government alleging that Mehtas appointment was done with bypassing the state government. However,the Supreme Court had upheld the Governors decision.

A new bill,Gujarat Lokayukta Commission Bill 2013,which dilutes the roles of Governor and Chief Justice in the appointment process by making Chief Minister the chairman of the Selection Committee for Lokayukta,has been pending with the governor. The bill,which was returned by the governor with special remarks,was passed again in the monsoon session with minor changes and forwarded to Beniwal for her approval.

Buch,72,was confirmed as Permanent Judge of the HC in December 2001 and had retired in August 2004. A native of Veraval in Junagadh district,Buch is a science graduate,who joined the judicial services as a Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate First Class.

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