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{{Short description|Parliamentary ombudsman of Gujarat, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
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| headquarters = Lokayukt Bhavan, Sector-10B, Opp. Sector-21 Police Station, Gandhinagar.(079)-23255753. arlok@gujarat.gov.in
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'''Gujarat Lokayukta''' is the [[Parliamentary Ombudsman]] for the state of [[Gujarat]] ([[India]]). It is a high level statutory functionary, created to address grievances of the public against ministers, legislators, administration and public servants in issues related to misuse of power, mal-administration and corruption. It was first formed under the Gujarat Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta Act, and approved by the [[president of India]] in 1986. With [[The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013]] adopted by the [[Parliament of India|Indian Parliament]] coming into force as a law on 16 January 2014, each state in India was required to appoint its [[Lokayukta]] within a year.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref3">{{cite news |last1=Seetharaman |first1=G. |title=Delay in the appointment of Lokpal & Lokayukta: Who will bell the graft? |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/why-there-is-no-lokpal-at-centre-and-lokayukta-in-many-states/articleshow/66570168.cms |access-date=5 September 2021 |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=10 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Bihar Lok Ref4">{{cite news |title=Lok Sabha passes landmark Lokpal Bill |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/lok-sabha-passes-landmark-lokpal-bill/article20701403.ece1 |access-date=5 September 2021 |publisher=businessline |date=12 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref> A bench of Lokayukta should consist of judicial and non-judicial members.<ref name="Bihar Lok Ref5">{{cite news |title=Only four states have appointed judicial, non-judicial members of Lokayukta, says report |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/only-four-states-have-appointed-judicial-non-judicial-members-of-lokayukta-says-report/articleshow/79627314.cms?from=mdr |access-date=5 September 2021 |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=8 December 2020}}</ref> An Upa-Lokayukta is a deputy to Lokayukta and assists with her or his work and acts as the in-charge Lokayukta in case the position falls vacant before time.

A [[Lokayukta]] of the state is appointed to office by the state [[Governor]] after consulting the committee consisting of State [[Chief Minister]], [[Speaker (politics)|Speaker]] of Legislative Assembly, [[Leader of Opposition]], Chairman of Legislative Council and Leader of Opposition of Legislative Council and cannot be removed from office except for reasons specified in the Act and will serve the period of five years.

== History and administration ==

Gujarat Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayukta was approved by its Legislative Assembly in 1986.<ref name="Gujarat Lok Ref1">{{cite web |title=Gujarat Lokayukta |url=https://lokayukta.gujarat.gov.in/ |website=lokayukta.gujarat.gov.in}}</ref> Gujarat Lokayukta bill was passed with amendments in year 2013<ref name="Gujarat LokRef13">{{cite news |title=Gujarat lokayukta holds up Parliament |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/gujarat-lokayukta-holds-up-parliament/story-MXOofKV3CVXhmAbDHRvs2N.html |access-date=9 September 2021 |newspaper=Hindustan Times |date=30 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref> but was not accepted by Governor as the bill made provision for a six-member committee headed by Chief Minister to appoint Lokayukta.<ref name="Gujarat LokRef2">{{cite news |title=Gujarat house passes new Lokayukta bill for the second time |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/DUERld6FkAW4vicLqO8Z8I/Gujarat-house-passes-new-Lokayukta-bill-for-the-second-time.html |access-date=8 September 2021 |publisher=mint |date=1 October 2013 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gujarat LokRef8">{{cite news |title=Retd Justice Mehta declines to take over as Gujarat Lokayukta |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/politics/retd-justice-mehta-declines-to-take-over-as-gujarat-lokayukta-113080700464_1.html |access-date=9 September 2021 |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=7 August 2013}}</ref> Gujarat Governor had appointed the Lokayukta in 2013 after consulting the serving Chief Justice of [[Gujarat High Court]] but was not accepted by the State Government. Later the [[Supreme Court of India]] upheld the appointment but the appointed Lokayukta Mr Justice (retd) R A Mehta did not take the charge.<ref name="Gujarat LokRef9">{{cite news |last1=G |first1=Pti |title=Will implement SC judgement on Lokayukta soon: Gujarat govt |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/west/story/gujarat-lokayukta-narendra-modi-goverrment-to-implement-supreme-court-judgement-150620-2013-01-02 |access-date=9 September 2021 |publisher=India Today |date=2 January 2013 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gujarat LokRef10">{{cite news |last1=Dave |first1=Kapil |title=Justice R A Mehta refuses to take charge as Gujarat Lokayukta {{!}} India News - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/justice-r-a-mehta-refuses-to-take-charge-as-gujarat-lokayukta/articleshow/21673091.cms |access-date=9 September 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=7 August 2013 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gujarat LokRef11">{{cite news |title=SC upholds Justice Mehta's appointment as Gujarat Lokayukta |url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/sc-upholds-justice-mehta-s-appointment-as-gujarat-lokayukta-19415.html |access-date=9 September 2021 |publisher=indiatvnews.com |date=2 January 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

== Oath or affirmation ==

{{Blockquote|"I, <name>, having been appointed Lokayukta (or Upa-Lokayukta) do swear in the name of God (or solemnly affirm) that I will bear faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established and I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will."|First Schedule, Gujarat Lokayukta and Upa-Lokayuktas Act, 1986}}

== Powers ==

Lokayukta for the state of Gujarat has got powers to investigate complaints of corruption by the general public against public officials such as the chief minister of state, deputy CM of the state, ministers of state, government company chairman, of a and university vice-chancellor and others mentioned in the Act.<ref name="Gujarat LokRef6">{{cite news |title=Justice Rajesh Shukla sworn-in as new Gujarat Lokayukta |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2020/06/23/bes17-gj-lokayukta.html |access-date=9 September 2021 |publisher=The Week |date=23 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Gujarat Lokayukta Act says that Lokayukta has independent powers to investigate and prosecute any government official or public servants of all grades, who are covered by the act and against whom the complaint is received for abusing his authority for self interest or causes hurt to anyone or any action done intentionally or following corrupt practices negatively impacting the state or individual.

== Appointment and tenure ==

Justice (retd.) Rajesh H Shukla, an ex-judge of Gujarat High Court was appointed as the fifth Lokayukta for the State of Gujarat.<ref name="Gujarat LokRef3">{{cite news |title=Retired Gujarat High Court Judge, Justice (retd.) Rajesh Shukla sworn in as Gujarat Lokayukta |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/retired-gujarat-high-court-judge-justice-retd-rajesh-shukla-sworn-in-as-gujarat-lokayukta |access-date=8 September 2021 |publisher=Bar and Bench - Indian Legal news |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Gujarat LokRef6"/>

In 2013, Justice (Retired) R A Mehta though appointed as Lokayukta of the state refused to take charge due to differences with the State Government.<ref name="Gujarat LokRef5">{{cite news |title=Justice R A Mehta refuses to take charge as Lokayukta of Gujarat |url=https://www.livelaw.in/justice-r-a-mehta-refuses-to-take-charge-as-lokayukta-of-gujarat/ |access-date=9 September 2021 |publisher=livelaw.in |date=7 August 2013 |language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Index !!Name !! Holding charge from !! Holding charge to
|-
| 1
| DH Shukla
| 26 July 1988
| 25 July 1993
|-
| 2
| IC Bhatt
| 10 November 1993
| 9 November 1998
|-
| 3
| SM Soni
| 25 November 1998
| 24 November 2003
|-
| 4
| D P Buch.<ref name="Gujarat LokRef4">{{cite news |title=Gujarat gets Lokayukta after a decade |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/report/gujarat-gets-lokayukta-after-a-decade/20131211.htm |access-date=9 September 2021 |publisher=Rediff |language=en}}</ref>
| 11 December 2013
| 11 December 2018
|-
| 5
| Justice Rajesh Shukla
| 23 June 2020
|
|-
|}

== See also ==
* [[Lokayukta]]
* [[Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013|Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013]]
* [[Delhi Lokayukta]]
* [[Himachal Pradesh Lokayukta]]
* [[Madhya Pradesh Lokayukta]]

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://lokayukta.gujarat.gov.in official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908112524/https://lokayukta.gujarat.gov.in/ |date=2021-09-08 }}


[[Category:Government of Gujarat]]
[[Category:Lokayuktas]]

Gujarat Lokayukta - Revision history

Theentrepreneur at 09:28, 24 March 2026