PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the Goa government to appoint a new Lokayukta within a period of three months from date, while rejecting the contentions of the Advocate General who told the court that it would not be possible to put a firm date on when the appointment would be made given the many uncertainties involved.
“Taking into consideration the mandate as well as purpose of enactment of [the] Lokayukta Act, we feel that this vacancy has to be filled in as expeditiously as possible so that the institution of the Lokayukta functions in the State of Goa. Therefore, we direct the State to take effective steps to fill up this post as expeditiously as possible and, in any case, within a period of three months from today,” the High Court Division bench of Justices MS Jawalkar and M S Sonak said.
The Advocate General had told the court that in terms of the Goa Lokayukta Act, only a retired Judge of the Supreme Court or a retired Chief Justice of any High Court, can be appointed as Lokayukta.
He pointed out that the State Government has sent a communication to the Registrar of the Supreme Court seeking names of candidates who are eligible and willing to be appointed as Lokayukta.
Adv Aires Rodrigues had approached the High Court alleging failure of the Government to duly initiate the process of selecting the new Lokayukta despite knowing very well that Lokayukta Justice PK Misra was due to retire on September 17.
Rodrigues alleged that the State Government was not keen to appoint the next Lokayukta so as to give public officials a free hand to indulge in acts of Corruption and maladministration and that the functioning of the Lokayukta and the cases currently pending before it would come to a grinding halt.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Sudarshen Reddy was on 8th March 2013 appointed as Goa’s first Lokayukta who assumed charge on 14th March amidst huge public protest at the Dona Paula circle while he was proceeding to the Goa Raj Bhavan to take his oath in office.
Within six months suddenly on 18th September 2013 Sudarshan Reddy without citing any reasons left Goa in a huff after tendering his resignation which was accepted by the Goa Governor on 17th October 2013.
After two years, retired Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice P K Misra on 24 April 2016 was appointed as Goa’s second Lokayukta and he assumed charge on 28th of April 2016 while his term ended on 17th September.
