Mehta ready to be Gujarat Lokayukta, won’t respond to HC

In his first public appearance since controversy broke over his appointment as Gujarat Lokayukta, Justice (retd) R A Mehta said on Friday that he would not respond to the Gujarat High Court notice to him on the state government’s petition in this regard.

He added that it was “not necessary” for him to respond to the same as he was “neither directly nor indirectly” connected with the same.

The state government had moved the high court against Mehta’s appointment as he had been named Lokayukta by the Gujarat governor without informing the state Cabinet.

Justice (retd) Mehta also revealed that he had given his consent for appointment as Lokayukta.

Attending a painting exhibition, the former chief justice of the Gujarat HC, who seemed relaxed despite the row, parried any further questions on the controversy.