An official spokesman of the Raj Bhavan said on Friday night that Governor Kamala Beniwal appointed the Lokayutka after she realised that the State government was “not having a positive attitude” in filling the post remaining vacant since 2003.
The spokesman said the Governor was receiving representations from various sectors for the last two years or so requesting her to use her constitutional powers to make the appointment.
Despite repeated requests to the State government from the Raj Bhavan not to keep the post vacant for long as it raised questions about the sincerity and honesty of the administration, the government did not show any “positive response” and the Governor was convinced that the State government “intended to indefinitely delay” the appointment of the Lokayukta.
“This forced the Governor to use her constitutional powers to appoint Justice R.A. Mehta as the Lokayukta to ensure a transparent administration to the people of the State,” the spokesman said.
