Ahmedabad, 27 August, 2011

Retired Supreme Court Justice MB Shah on Saturday gave his approval to head the inquiry commission, appointed by Gujarat Government, to probe into the allegations of corruption against it by the Opposition Congress.

Gujarat government on August 17 appointed a one-man inquiry commission, to be headed by Justice Shah, to probe into the allegations by Congress which had earlier submitted a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil saying Modi government had indulged into corrupt practices and showing favoritism to select industrial houses.

“I have accepted to head the inquiry commission,” Justice Shah told PTI.

Justice Shah is a part of the Supreme COurt’s Black Money Special Investigation Team (SIT): he is on the committee to probe illegal mining.

It should be mentioned that Governor of Gujarat Dr. Kamla Beniwal appointed Justice (retired) RA Mehta as the Lokayukta of the state on Friday. But Mehta can not inquire into charges that will be probed by the Justice Shah inquiry commission. This is because Lokayukta can not inquire into charges which are already under the ambit of a Commission of Inquiry act. The act clearly mentions that a Lokayukt will need to wait, even if the same issue comes before him or her, for the inquiry commission to conclude its probe.

According to section 8(1)A of the Lokayukt Act, 1986, a Lokayukt can not investigate any action in respect of which a formal and public inquiry has been ordered under the commission of Inquiries act.

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