Modi govt for ex-HC judge D P Buch as Lokayukta

The Gujarat government has recommended Governor Kamla Beniwal to appoint former High Court judge D P Buch (72) as Lokayukta of the state. The recommendation was made after the Cabinet met on Wednesday.

Buch’s name was suggested by Leader of the Opposition Shankersinh Vaghela and Gujarat High Court Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya. Vaghela had also suggested Justice P B Majumdar’s name for the post.

Vaghela told The Indian Express,“We can say the name given by the Opposition has been honoured.”

Buch’s recommendation comes three months after Justice (retd) R A Mehta refused to take up the post. The state government and the Governor were at loggerheads over Mehta’s selection by Beniwal,without consulting the council of ministers,in 2011. The post has been vacant for over a decade now in the state.