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'q t ll'(;
'l'he Gujal.at Lokuyukta Aayog liill,,2(lI J Gqiartlt Bill |{o.2a0f 20lJ)

Tlre State Government in the Legislative & Purliumentury A,ffairs l)epurtment, vide its letter l{o. Gui/Bill/24'/20I 3/32 I 3/I 45/C duterl- April, 2013, has forwarded The Guiurat Lokuyuktu AUJ'og B,itt, 2013(G$arat Bill No.Zao.f2013) for reserving it for the kind {<r ol' lltc IIort. I'rcsidcnl oJ' Indiu witll rclcrettcc: cer-rsicfcrarticln of India. Article 254 (2) of the Cortstitr.ttion While the above Bill was under my consideration'I have from the political partics ancl received several represeutations Non-GovernmentalOrganizations, wherein they have drawn my to some of the glaring defects/infirmitiesinherent in the af.tention

BiII. the provisionsof the Bill under I havecarefullyconsidered refbrence. I have consideredthe Stutement tt Ofiec'ts .t
to thc Ilill ttndthr: Minutcs rtl' tlte I't'occc,tiittss trlcusotts attachccl of the. "Gujarat Legislative Assembly on"the day the Bill wzts that have been the representations passed. - I have also considered rece.iveclin the Raj Bhavan Secretariat and the issues raisecl therein. After considerationof all these,I have taken a view otl below: the whole issueas enumeratecl The Gujarat Lokayukta Aayog Bill, 2013 (Guiarat Bill IYo.24 of 2013) suffersfrom severalseriouslacunaeas mentionedbelow: l. ' definitionof the c Defective :

'competent clsuse 2 (4) of the proposedBillhas defined Authorily Authority'. It has beenmentionedthat the Competent woulclbe the Councilof Ministersin the caseof a Minister ancl lle as nray it rvortlcJ in the caseof any cltherpriblic firnctionary,

littrst'in tlrc IJitl, .. is is il be : p rcsc:ri bccl,'I'h i lfi t ' t l i r r l l r ' ' l t i l / ' t lclt trrt:;ps bcct ltr:; t itnltot'tilttt llrovisiot a constitutional nuthoritv: Irrational act to defing

hrs [ - r c c : ' t t t stc

'Governor' has been defined' tn: (5)' 2 i: clause In Governorrs Legislature' the fi'orn irrationala.d is "ot !"p.rtecl whose iot:: -^t:tponsibilities' a Constitutional Aitthority bee. functions'powers' etc' have qualification, oiupp-o-i-'t-*t"i There is no need t'cr in ,i" naion constitutio'rr. rvell clefined sr,rch.a provision in thc define the consiitutionut Authority. dignity of the highest u"tit t" in" Birt is an ",r";;;-io -Constitutional Office of the State'

3.

'f'or the' appointmcnt faultv setcction ryrs-chlnr-sm t tGvuLtgi ut'd th" UP-Lokunttktu

of tlrc

lr:i 1r.vit''tl' ot a serecriott L',trtttrirat re,colllr-lencrations a p p o i n t a p e r s o n t o b e k n o w n a s t l r e L o k rts a y u k t (tp-l a a n dttku't'rtlilrt' t-totttttlt.c t. bc kttt'r'ri tltc otircr'-pcrSOIls,.;ltclt lburr Jlrarrr shall bc half of the tlp-Lokuvukttrs prcvicledth"t bt: ";;;;;;';'"; ,rr" ren,airring hal{' $'ottlcl iudicial nrembers, whereas i vc tl l cttll' r cr s' rr rrtl rrl ii strl tt ,l.heselectitlnCortlnitteewotrlclcorriprisctrl.tlrr: following six dignitaries;
I. IIttn'hlc Chief Minister 2. IIon'hle SPeaker of AssemblY - Clruir Persott the - Member

( ) l a w s e s ( 1 ) o t t h e l ] i l l p r o v i d e s f b r t l r e a p p thas l i n ' tbeetr trretrttll\n the State' It Up-Lokuyltktu theI'okayukta'-Ad at-rc'l investigations that for the purpos"of "onducting mentione<J inquiriesinu""o'aancewithtlttp'ot'isio nsotthcBill'thc hi, hunrland sealanclotr the uncler by rvarr.ant, (j()vornor sl.,all,

- Member 3. A Minister from the Council of Mittisters to be nominated Chief the Hon'ble iy Minister 4. Hon'ble Leacler of OPPosition tlrc - Member

'iiin Orte
-ii"

- Mcnilter .Iutlge ttf tha Guiurat-

rtiit, cruri in tontultation of five t lii ,n, collegium

Guiatat tt"to, Judges of the Iligh Crturt Vigilance Contmissioner the Guiarat Stste of - lvlember

rlnu chie-f Jttstice of

6 henorninated C,,,i,'t
the

T h e a b o v e p r o v i s i o l l s r e g a rJr c t ithe r r g six t l r eurembet c o r r s t is' t ufbttr Liotrr.l[.tlrc tr''ti cl"i co"o'iliu;'t;;; political sclectitttt belongingto.onc clefinitely"urri-r,rooulrtediy be Minister will Ho"'bL speaker' ;iltivi"i"t'" Hon'bl; Vigillticc party chiei ministcr ancl thc trr"-iror-,,bl" uv appointecl of tl-re Selectiort very LIS C)orrrrnissioner' The "o"'titt'tiott Leaderof' the .rrpositit)ll 'ro,,'t,t" Committeesuggest,.in" bv uon'bie Chiel'

t9 b;it"t"i""-d well astheHighZ;;ilJse *""rd be in mrnority and nigrr G;; tire thcir .c"."i 'ig'"'i'ti<;ance' Justiceof because a"y rt;orv *Jli;;;" their voice be easilyoverruled "f:..ri"t"could out of the lour that objectionable also it is Besicles, -!!o::"lros' two shall tt appo*J^;;' be that would-be persons whereils' two would

brckgrot.lnd' Ir.., ll'ottt lttltttttti:;tt'ativc j u i l i c i a l t l r e t n b e r s . , l l r c r . c i s l r o t t g g d L t r co:rtrar;" |.'g1t':1)iI l r -u'ould ) , l , . , . l y Lrc rvillrlrtl it the' background-'. aclministrative 9" irom the iLrdicial 1' 'r'lr,l l t l r c { i ' r r l I t " f ; ; " t ' ' " ' k t " ' " t r r l r P r t ' r " ' i r t li r b l c k q r o t i r l d( r r l l Y '
Itr tltt: Gtt'ittrut l'rhtt'l'ttltlrt "lr'l' l()ll(' llr;rl 1ll()rrlrl l'r'

r e p e a l e d U y t h e ' " " u ' t ' ' - ' " " t o t t h e p r e s c r tgave t ' I i i l l nrirr..:]' 'tltcttlt''l rtttt .o.,,1: 3(l), t Sec/iol irr illeclttttti.''', aS or'rtlirrc-cl viewoftheChiefJusticeoftheGujaratHighCottrtli} l . e c o m l n e n d i n g a L o k a y u k t a . " f h e p r o v i s i o n s Chiaf ol-tlrc prtlptlsctl lllittistcr to tiio IItsn'ble poweIs absolute Bilt hasgiven t': whotn the LakayttU'": against ' Mitristers ancJ tl'teCttuncit of ot' supl"losed,o.ona.,.tirrrlestigatiorrscrl. t h eentire clrarg c s ce lr [.c ttt't.ttlllttltt. porr the '[he ery objective appearsto concentrare r oi rhe nrling Prrtr rrr haniJs the in ll'ont selectionof the Lokiyukta

chiaf '/rr'rlicc ol' Ll'ta powerty u.ritirin, ,r,, significanoe of theLokayukta' prooess thevery consr'rltation

1i'om standttrl has been rellected Lokayukto 'o*o' which oi tn" mandate to title' clear violartion Cou't fronrtime Swpreme decisions'oitn" several Au\f,,!r'i;,liii,'

*ryl:::il;: .rtreabove provisio't:' il': rattotra scruflny of any

tltl:

:.'' $#i, i-dli{ffiil'+q* ?: fi'**t

tttll: -'^,1 c( liitvc irny voicc "t, ,' -1?:l::,,;i nrattct' of vital bc t' ltrlrlit' slt.r'rlcl t. sttt:lt r.ttriu"t,utrtu

*iilt'o"tititur -executive' prinracy gives

Guiarut..Lokutuktu tl"lt;' 3 of the i'e' the' Ctause

"o"oti:

rlr,:

,,;i;.,i;,.y irrvt"':rril''rrr,r rr t iivirrl'' ', ,,u',,.j',,. "'il:,",;iill,l:i'il].'ii,, rirrr(' tlcrrrt,q r''lrrt'r'lr lre'::ll"""tt'l'rl' llu,,.'i"".'1'"'tllr;l:,;'ll:,,;';,,i",;,'i',,n,ui,Itr,t''r

(&

li i'll liill;l"l l, :l; r,,,,.,:,; ;ll,:: ri rer.,,, .lilil;;);hl,-ih* tlcsi't"''tr'iittrPrc triivcsittt vcrY irrr;tittttiot

of thep"opt"' respect

e r'lh o ;;ri;' j ils; lilTi 'i:",,:*#:#i#':t"'#:'-'J"a'ur:rl*ry"-1 I ":fi#;:t* :i.1lT ti?,',:',l,n'

""'v' "':]'l::t;l';;lt;lJltl

'Jf,il'f,ffi qTffi l"l'' * ll;P :* rt: ;q: :iff

in tlre ntct t|:I'',ot selection
frlnctionlrt:: UVpublic to out".r.*'fii'e subject"u'"-"liin^ttq

4. Of,rfln.gg""t"+:t!t-#
s

ukta (Criteria

:.- l-o: {'nr seleclLlgl "oler'.tior

*;;;,-3(s)nu,111*i,1.,'f :?:,:'3$'Jj1'[i:,1""i itv c a p a tivec o' u n

in " "a 3:"";, , l"ft ln' ,Il,l1'"? ffil :,H,.f

abov:,i:;,llu. ,r,e ;,[Ji:l ;i'i;: ilii:]i: :::lij" c r e'[ r rb e b ; ; Ji Jlil i:fu *i t,iliffi#i*l.i."-#' t-iitttiion 4.*
clienitybY suon

Committee'
i-"t t

bv the LohLvuht:r:

5. Wg:1"

tl"' / t'ktry'ttktt "14'l'og

) :::I.3;il::1,,,i,1,I1: ;:Xil;llT' ero(2 us a ct ",'i\li\

slrlttt

"t't "'f

it

issttctl by virtuc ol'a notilic-'ltliotr jtrriscliction its lirrn'r is exolucJecl bytheStateC;n""'''t'""trtutrclerthepi'ovisitltr:;tll'c'lurrsc2-i' .l.heabovepr,ovisirlntalccsawlrythccntirc.ltrli:;tlictitltlol' by into trny'corlplairrt illvestigale to Ati-yo14 llrt'Slltlt' tlrc lnka.vukttr
11 rr.litit'"iit"'llrnl vttlrt. :'l' ( i()\'('llllrt.',tt t t ' t t l t ' j t' l' 1 " " ' " ' ol ittv.rilill'llt,,,,
( ittvt'tlllll(:lll l0

['y rrif'ttt l"" irr:rttt'rl ltnttt l t ' : 1 " . t ' t t ' ' r t t l r r '' ' l l l hlri r l ' r t l ' l r ' rr tlrt' Slrttr' i t r ' v t i r r l t ll r t ' t : l t : ; i t ' t '
lllltlr'l llr'' rrlrr)\rr' I l'ttl'" 'A'l

r lr 'i r t r ' l t t t ] : l - l r t 'r ; t r ' 1 r 1 irrvcstigirtiott:i.eottItt t l t c Lllly c v c t t f ) " " t i i " g su\rll, l''<trn it'tvcstigatitlg" b c 1 ' r l ' e v c t r t c c l c t " ' l c l tlrc Ittku.t'ttkltr p"t'tlrrrlr "trr\ 'I'hus, tiro ultitttitlc l)()\\rt'lro j I t ' u r t t r e r . complaint Aayog are kept with t'o

" " i i'lti 'l t "'t"tt"i"t' itl(' 't ltil(tltt

tllltfll

i'u*igutt;;;tn; allegation only' StateGovernment

Lokayukta

t6

6.

,tt

Bill' Guiarat 'LokuyulctaAuyog The (l) of 11 Clcruse to thc cotnplaints' lt is prctvision"'iuti'''8' tnacle 'co,uplainar.r.t, 20l3 has tttttlct' tllc nraking a ctltttplitittt that proposed '4ayog'rvill 'a'e to .;; l.okaiukta t'e U.tor.. provisio'sor u;i;n,Jl allcgation tlt;tt of sr-rch r."t*i"age 1r;;; ;.rsonal pr,ru. that he heismakingagainstapubliclirrrc tio rrafyol . a M i rl'o* r i s t ctirc rlrstht. either ierivecl be ;;;iJ mo*ledge Tn. ()ll soll'lc crse 'ray be. (lovertttttottt ol-[jcc bascti ( i ( ) v e r n l - t r c n t l ) c p a t ' t t t t c t ' t t0 r ' tlrc rr',lic:rrrt i*lb.'atio' obt,i'cd Lr-y bc ii'rouf.f in.tbri'atio'. i'. iy'17, Rigi;, theprovisit* "r the tlttr under inlbnnatiorl citlrer' ll'oltr obtainecl rouia'-nuu. applicant pr'6'tlivcvltlttt:' lravcn ,;,r,rs,i,l"rirblc rniglrt that ,rp.it ncwspape, to is difficult for any applicant Plove circimri*".r,"it the under thc irrlirrrttiltiortol about kno*i*Jg* that he has a personar public' functionary or a u Ui commttted irregularity being the scope of sucl't p'ou"'oi' very Minister. The "'tti't' to investigate'

have tt uiir,. rl*iyu*ta iayog rvill complaints

u"19"^ is about the pur"ritive Another provision equally of the proposedBil/' tt ltrsl in proposed action that is "toiri l r a s b e e n t a i o o o * n t h a t i t u " y p ' ' * o ' in ' w la ro m a l i c i o ubefore s l y o f the cornolaint atlegation fal19 willfully *a;r';;y r'" punisheclwith shall' Aoyog' I.'olcnvuktn shltll.a]s tr lr r r tl ";";;;;i"ii""' ,r x".,r clir rsix g r lr .r ltlr s ,,,,l.

[:.r a lc' r r r ' l' he abovc pr ovtsr () r r i 'tl tri st-l 'r'c't 'u' Rs' 25' 000/of n"t b e l i a b l e to <liscourag.,.undthreatenstlre,complainantfromtilingany

comphint.Fle/shecanbeevensenttojailortrnedRs'25'000/maliciouslymakingfalseallegatio's. anci for r,r,illfr_rliy

n

|nclttuse13(8),ithasbeenprovidecltlratllopersonshall any information or answer be requireclor ""trroiirrd to furnish l.tl itttyottc' tlr pt'otlutct;{1lt;11111c11t
auy clttcstiott

olsl]ltt' cr r cy talics away thc cntir c lftttr cl au,sc ab o vc: 'l'l-re said clautsc of investigationani evidence. the proceeclings givesabsolutepowertcltlrestateGovernmentnottodiscloseany e vi de n ce co l l e cte d ,i nvestigationm adeancltheVer ypr oceeding In a s pr"rblic' .l .hc

before theto*alu;;"

iri

of the the knowledge

tll

givencase'itwotrldbeeasierfortheStateGovernmenttogetthc e n ti re i nq u i ryco mpl eteclinanabsolr ' r teSecl.ecy' becauser r otlri r r g is to be disclosedto the Public' Aavog to the' of the.Report of the Lokavukta 8. S-ubrgi!;sion

cggtpPtenl-nulhorjlf
Clrluse16oftheproposedBittisabotrttheprclvtslollsilol. report to tl're competent submission or it. Lo'kayaukta's that the report clf tlre Lokuyuktrt Awthoriry. rt r'u, b""n pl.ouided Authorily and thc should be submitteclbefore trre competint either acceptthe repofi or reject the o"if,oriJy co:r.hpeten, "un, furtheractionsareto be taken' salne anclaccordingiy, t,

.Lokuyllklu shall lrave no po*,,,

the Lokayuktoare po*.rJ.itur..pt*ce'of the reportof (lirvct'ttttlt:rtl'i\ trltinrate Aullutrity,i,e. thc stiltc witli tlre cornpelenl the Cabinetwould be in it situation*ouriU.-"rr.ut.O wherein Aayog' Thereis positionto arria, tttt "po'i of the I'okayukta the reportundcr maynot acc.ept everypossibilitliirruilrr.'cabinet The or'the other and may reject it altogettrer' tlre ollQ exQuse tIl|(lcl.
tu cltr arrytlrirrg

'I'lreveryprovisi<rrrappearstobcricJictrltltrs,Ileelttt:,e||rt.

the rvhole This is nothing'but a.rlgckery of circumstances. woulclbe totally powerless Lokuyu"ito The process. ;udicial llrrtrilivt' t t i t l r t ' t . t ) t t t l I t t : l i t l|t|tt l t I s c t . i t l t t s
1.,t. , ,c ,()|||L: evctt'il.lris r.t'1lt,r

a c t i o n s a r e r e q u i r e d t o b e t a k e n a g a i r r s . t t i r c tttttlctt'trtltt:tt g u i l t y ' . l ' l rlr\ isrcrl oxct'cisc ol'thc purpuo. whole the dilutes provision the LokaYukta'

.'^*."". ' -; '-""ii'"'.--.",tlful**ii**,*:iirLrl;xr:"-.:*lii-*r1;--.,--"-"''*

ol'the view that nranyof thc I ant. In view of tlreabove, provisionsof the Giiarat Lokayukts Aayog Bill, 2013 (Guiurat ol'the pr"rblic Ililt No.2aof 2013)are detrimental to the interests needsrethinkingorr tltc issucs wellare and the state legislatui'e of the peopleof Gujarat. lreptionedabovein the interest Accordingly,I.herebyreturntlreGujaratLokayukta Aayog Bilt, 2013(Guiurat Bitt No.24of 2013) with rny Mc:ssuge the to reconsider Asseafily with a request to tlre GujaratLegistative therein as modifications/amendments same and make necessary
above. suggested