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Journalism of Courage
Justice R.A. Mehta holds out a sobering reminder of the creeping politicisation of institutions
The office of lokayukta is a work in progress,with the nature and extent of its powers varying greatly across the states. The experience of lokayuktas in different states is a working guide to finding a balance between instituting an effective anti-corruption watchdog and retaining enough safeguards to prevent the possibility of an unaccountable super-auditor. Therefore,most controversies have come with the collateral benefit of lessons in the evolution of the office. Not so the fracas over the appointment of the Gujarat lokayukta. It is of a different order. Justice R.A. Mehtas decision declining to assume office should sound the warning bell for the lasting damage that can be wrought on institutions by excessive politicisation.
Mehtas reluctance to assume the office must also compel sober reflection. What are the consequences for India when partisan politics over key institutions and even junior administrative posts coarsens the discourse to the extent that qualified persons find themselves unable to function? What will it take to clear a middle ground in our politics for parties to reach out to each other to sustain action on privileging due procedure to fireproof our institutions against political manipulation?
