JUDGMENT :

V.M. Sahai, J.

In these writ petitions the warrant of appointment of Justice (Retired) R.A.Mehta as Lokayukta, State of Gujarat issued on 25.8.2011 by the Her Excellency the Governor of Gujarat, without or contrary to the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers headed by the Chief Minister, ignoring the letters dated 18.8.2011 written by the Chief Minister, has been challenged.

2. The Division Bench which heard the matter gave a split verdict on 10.10.2011 and referred the matter on 11.10.2011 to the Hon'ble Acting Chief Justice, who on 15.11.2011 nominated me to hear the matter. On 23.11.2011 a preliminary objection was raised that the Hon’ble Judges of the Division Bench had not formulated the points on which they differed, therefore, the reference was incompetent. The preliminary objection was upheld on 24.11.2011 and the reference was returned to the Acting Chief Justice. It appears that the matter was sent back to the Division Bench. On 9.12.2011 the points of disagreement have been formulated by the Division Bench. The matter has again been nominated to me on 13.12.2011 by the Acting Chief Justice. In Writ Petition (PIL) No.104 of 2011, the same Division Bench has passed an order on 13.12.2011 adopting the orders dated 10th and 11th October, 2011 passed in Special Civil Application No.12632 of 2011 and 13499 of 2011 and the points of disagreement recorded by the Division Bench on 09.12.2011 had also been adopted and the matter was sent to the Acting Chief Justice for necessary orders. The Acting Chief Justice has nominated this writ petition also on 15.12.2011 to be heard by me on the points of disagreement.

3. The points of disagreement framed by the Division Bench are as follows :-

"(1) Looking to the nature of consultation required for appointment of Lokayukta under Section 3 of the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, in the present case as a matter of fact, whether the consultative process between the Hon'ble the Chief Justice and the Hon'ble the Chief Minister had come to a close and there was a deadlock between the two dignitaries?

(2) Whether the Governor of the State was authorised to act in a manner she did while issuing notification appointing Justice R.A. Mehta as Lokayukta of the State without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers?

(3) What final order? In other words, should the petitions be allowed or should the petitions be dismissed. Further if the petitions are to be allowed, should further direction for appointment of a new Lokayukta within time frame be given to the State Government?”

4. Before considering the points involved, it is necessary to state that the Administrative Reforms Commission was constituted in the year 1966 by the Central Government in view of public outcry and need for expeditious redressal of the grievances of the citizens to root out corruption in public life within the democratic system of Government. The interim report of this Commission recommended setting up an institution of Lokayukta and Lokpal. It had to be an institution in which average citizen will have faith and confidence that he will be able to secure quick and inexpensive justice. In view of the interim report of the Commission, the institution of Lokayukta was established in various States. Gujarat Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 1975 in its statement and object makes the recommendation of the Commission the main object for appointment of Lokayukta to inquire into the complaints in respect of actions taken by all public functionaries.

5. The Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986 (for short the Act) was passed by the State Legislature. In exercise of the powers conferred by section 23 of the Act, the Governor of Gujarat made the Gujarat Lokayukta Rules, 1989. The provisions of the Act reveal that it is a vital piece of legislation. Its aim is to set up a strong institution of Lokayukta. On the one hand it creates confidence in the people that investigations in complaints and allegations against public functionaries would be undert