(UNI) The Bombay High Court at Goa today directed that a notice be issued to the state government on a petition filed by lawyer Aires Rodrigues challenging the appointment of retired Justice B Sudershan Reddy as first Lokayukta of Goa.
The direction was given by a division bench comprising Justice A P Lavande and U V Bakre.
The court has given the government two weeks to file its reply.
Adv Rodrigues today submitted before the court that Justice Reddy’s appointment as Lokayukta of Goa was not in accordance with law.
He further submitted that the Goa government instead of requesting the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court to recommend names for the post of Lokayukta, it high-handedly and unlawfully appointed a committee, headed by Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, to select the Lokayukta.
He stated that the entire selection process was not transparent as the intention of government was to appoint a Lokayukta of the choice of the ruling party.
Adv Rodrigues also submitted that the primacy of the Chief Justice in matters of selection to high judicial and quasi-judicial posts could not be whittled down by illegal actions of government.
In his petition, he has sought that the order appointing Justice Reddy as Goa Lokayukta, passed on March three, be quashed and set aside.
Rodrigues has also sought that pending the hearing and final disposal of his petition, Justice Reddy should be restrained from functioning or acting as the Lokayukta of Goa. UNI
