In Gujarat you are killed if you fight for justice ...

AhmedabadMirror 20/08/2011
... says slain RTI activist Amit Jethava’s father Bhikhubhai who has filed a PIL seeking appointment of lokayukta to check corruption in state
Even as people back Anna Hazare demanding a corruption-free India, one man quietly but determinedly filed a public interest litigation seeking appointment of a lokayukta in Gujarat.  His anguish and agony is understandable. His young son was murdered sometime back opposite Gujarat High Court because he was using his right to seek information against the rich, powerful and politically connected mining mafia. Bhikhubhai Jethava, father of slain RTI activist Amit Jethava, says Gujarat is an unsafe place for all those who fight for their rights. “Just like Haren Pandya who was assassinated by someone who felt threatened by him and his father Vithalbhai died fighting for justice for his son’s untimely death, I too will die fighting. Worse, I might be murdered because now I am all out to expose that Gujarat is not vibrant,” Bhikhubhai tells Dilip Patel and Tanushree Bhatia. 
Excerpts from an interview:

Bhikhubhai Jethwa, father of slain actiivist Amit Jethwa

What made you file the PIL demanding a lokayukta?

 My son had filed a PIL in 2008. There already is a law in Gujarat but the state government is deliberately not appointing a lokayukta. When my son filed the PIL, the state government assured Gujarat High Court  of appointing lokayukta “immediately”.  It didn’t happen. Hence this PIL.

What would you achieve by filing this PIL?

I feel pained. Everybody is carried away by the hype that Gujarat is vibrant. My son was fighting for justice. He was fighting against corruption and politicians. There are two reasons for filing this PIL: to continue my son’s fight against corruption and politicians, and to support the movement started by Anna Hazare. I have spoken to Anna several times on the issue.

How will lokayukta benefit the state?

What is the other way left in Gujarat at the moment to seek justice? Those who raise their voice against falsehood, injustice or corruption are eliminated. From Haren Pandya to Amit Jethava. What is the action taken against corruption and injustice under the Narendra Modi government? The institution of lokayukta is the only recourse left for common people like us to get justice and to fight against powerful politicians and corruption. Once lokayukta is in place, believe me, several ministers will be behind bars. Today, corruption has crossed its limits in Gujarat. 

Yesterday (August 18) there was a government function at Khambha in Amreli - Chalo Taluka Sarkar. It was followed by lunch for the villagers. Only 500 people ate at the function, but the government claimed that 120,000 people had lunch. Now officials will also claim that money was spent on this extravaganza! It is taxpayer’s money. 

People can know where their leaders stand once lokayukta is in place. Until now, all of us thought Karnataka government was good. So much development and international investment has come to Bangaluru. But look what (BS) Yeddyurappa had done there.  Worse things are happening in Gujarat but no action is being taken against those responsible. Lokayukta is Gujarat’s only hope to know the reality. 

Are you facing any problem in your fight?
If you want to fight, you have to be ready for everything. I had a small shoe shop which I had to shut down once my son was murdered. I took over his crusade. I have an old worn out motorcycle on which I travel all across Gujarat to spread the message. I do not have any bank balance. I support people who are fighting against corruption. I support the Jan Lokpal Bill and Anna. Even BJP which is ruling Gujarat is supporting Anna. It is good to have a lokpal in Delhi and to support Anna, but please support me also. If you are truly for justice and want to fight against corruption, BJP should support me in getting a lokayukta appointed in Gujarat. We already have a law and entire machinery in place for the lokayukta’s office but the government does not want to appoint one because it will be exposed.

Have you received any threat?

I will be murdered. Isn’t that what happens in Gujarat when you fight for justice? What happened to Haren Pandya? It was a political murder. What happened to my son? Specially after this petition, my life is in danger. I have also informed President Pratibha Patil about the same through an affidavit. I am a small man. My life is not valuable and it is so easy to eliminate me. But I don’t care. My father was a freedom fighter. My son was a fighter. I am also a fighter. I want to expose corruption prevailing in Gujarat.

How can you say there is corruption in Gujarat? The state is known for clean governance. 

Corruption in Gujarat is different. Gujarat has traditionally been very progressive and rich. Right now corruption that exists in Gujarat is not only different from that in other states but dangerous. We are a border state. Still our government is sheltering and doling out land to industrialists who have been sent to jail for extortion or custom evasion.

My son was fighting to stop illegal limestone quarries. He had openly named BJP MP Dinu Bogha Solanki. He had proof. Still what happened? My son was murdered. Haren Pandya deposed before a people’s tribunal about Narendra Modi’s complicity in the genocide, that he was responsible for the death of hundreds of innocent people in 2002 riots. What happened? Modi became number one and Harenbhai was killed. This is Gujarat. It is sad that in Gandhi’s Gujarat we blindly support Anna but are ignoring corrupt and criminal politicians. These politicians in partnership with select industrialists are plundering the state. The government allots land to industrial houses at throwaway prices. Look at Adani and his growth story. Adani Industries is the biggest beneficiary of our state government’s generosity. What is happening in the name of land acquisition? The Modi government is misusing the Land Acquisition Act. 

How will lokayukta help?

According to the law, only the lokayukta can probe chief minister or his council of ministers or the government. This is exactly what happened in Karnataka. If we want transparency in Gujarat, we need a lokayukta. The common man today does not get basic information on industries and politicians through RTI. I am eagerly waiting for lokayukta. The first case that I will file with the lokayukta will be against Dinu Solanki and after that against 15 other politicians of Gujarat.

HC issues notice to Modi govt over Lokayukta appointment

IndianExpress 19/08/2011

The Gujarat High Court today issued a notice to the state government over a PIL seeking appointment of the Lokayukta.

A division Bench of Justice Akil Kureshi and Justice Sonia Gokani while issuing the notice asked the Narendra Modi government to file its reply by August 29 when the next hearing is scheduled.

The high court asked the government to file an affidavit detailing the present status of the appointment of the ombudsman as per the Gujarat Lokayukta Act, 1986.

The government has not appointed anyone to the post in the last seven years.

The PIL was filed by Bhikhabhai Jethava, father of Right To Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethava who was shot dead in front of the Gujarat High Court in July last year.

Jethava demanded that non-appointment of the Lokayukta be held illegal and unconstitutional and sought the court's directions to the state government for the appointment to take place within a stipulated period of time.

he petitioner also contended that the state has failed to appoint the Lokayukta even one year after it made a statement on the same.

In June last year, the Additional Advocate General had said in the High Court on a similar petition that the consultation process for the appointment of Lokayukta was already over.

He had said that the state Cabinet had taken a decision in the matter and had forwarded it to the Gujarat Governor for taking an appropriate decision.

Jethava accused that either the statement of the Additional Advocate General was incorrect, which was very serious as it amounted to propriety on the part of a constitutional authority, or the state government had developed cold feet in appointing a Lokayukta.

He alleged that the government may be trying to prevent a statutory authority from investigating into allegations of corruption, misdeeds, abuse of power and personal benefit on the part of ministers and public functionaries as defined in the Gujarat Lokayukta Act.

The petitioner stated in the PIL that Gujarat had a Lokayukta till 2003 and even after more than seven years the state government has not made another appointment, thereby frustrating the Act.

He alleged that non-appointment of a Lokayukta was a deliberate failure on part of the government in fulfilling its constitutional obligation since it was mandatory to appoint the authority as per the Act.

Jethava also alleged that there were serious complaints against the state government regarding corruption, disposal of government land at throwaway prices to industrial houses, privatisation of natural, public and community resources in the name of development, intellectual and monetary corruption and abuse of position for improper and corrupt motives.

Due to the absence of a Lokayukta there was no institution or platform in the state that could investigate such allegations, he contended.

લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકમાં વિલંબના મુદે સરકારનો જવાબ માગતી હાઇકોર્ટ

GujaratSamachar 19/08/2011

ગુજરાતમાં લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂક મામલે પીઆઇએલ

અમદાવાદ,ગુરૃવાર
ગુજરાત રાજયમાં લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરાવવા આખરે ગુજરાત હાઇકોર્ટમાં જાહેરહિતની રિટ અરજી દાખલ કરાઇ છે. જેની સુનાવણીમાં જસ્ટિસ અકીલ કુરેશી અને જસ્ટિસ સોનિયાબહેન ગોકાણીની ખંડપીઠે રાજય સરકાર અને રાજયના મુખ્ય સચિવ વિરુદ્ધ કારણદર્શક નોટિસ જારી કરી છે. વધુમાં, હાઇકોર્ટે રાજય સરકારને એ બાબત સ્પષ્ટ કરવા કહી છે કે, અત્યારે લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકનો મામલો કયા તબક્કે છે અને અત્યાર સુધી લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક શા માટે થઇ શકી નથી? સરકારને આ બાબતે ખુલાસા સાથેનો જવાબ રજૂ કરવા નિર્દેશ કરી ખંડપીઠે કેસની વધુ સુનાવણી તા.૨૯મી ઓગસ્ટના રોજ મુકરર કરી હતી.
સાડા સાત વર્ષ કરતાં પણ વધુ સમય વીતી જવાં છતાં સરકાર દ્વારા લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરાતી નથી
સ્વ. આરટીઆઇ એકટીવીસ્ટ અમિત જેઠવાના પિતા ભીખાભાઇ કલ્યાણજીભાઇ જેઠવા દ્વારા કરાયેલી રિટ અરજીમાં એ મતલબના મુદ્દા ઉપસ્થિત કરવામાં આવ્યા હતા કે, ગુજરાત લોકાયુકત એકટ-૧૯૮૬ની કલમ-૩ હેઠળ લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવી અનિવાર્ય હોવાછતાં ગુજરાત સરકાર દ્વારા એક યા બીજા પ્રકારે લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવામાં આવતી નથી. રાજય સરકારના ઉદાસીન વલણના કારણે છેલ્લા સાડા સાત વર્ષોથી આટલી મહત્વની જગ્યા ખાલી પડી રહી છે તેમછતાં સરકાર હજુ સુધી આ મામલે તાત્કાલિક કોઇ નિર્ણય કરતી નથી.
ગત વર્ષે સ્વ. આરટીઆઇ એકટીવીસ્ટ અમિત જેઠવાએ લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકના મામલે એપ્રિલ-૨૦૧૦માં હાઇકોર્ટમાં રિટ અરજી કરી હતી. જેની સુનાવણીમાં ખુદ રાજયના એડીશનલ એડવોકેટ જનરલ તરફથી અદાલત સમક્ષ એવું નિવેદન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું કે, લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક અંગે સલાહમસલતની પ્રક્રિયા પૂર્ણ કરી દેવાઇ છે. કેબીનેટ દ્વારા લોકાયુકતના મામલે નિર્ણય લેવાઇ ગયો છે અને તે રાજયપાલની મંજૂરી અર્થે મોકલી અપાયો છે. આમ, લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકના પગલાં ઓલરેડી લેવાઇ ગયા છે, જે પાઇપલાઇનમાં છે. સરકારની આ બાંહેધરી ધ્યાનમાં લઇ તત્કાલીન જસ્ટિસ ભગવતીપ્રસાદ અને જસ્ટિસ જે.સી.ઉપાધ્યાયની ખંડપીઠે રિટ અરજીનો નિકાલ કર્યો હતો.
પરંતુ સૌથી આશ્ચર્યની વાત એ છે કે, રાજય સરકારે હાઇકોર્ટ સમક્ષ આપેલી આ બાંહેધરીને સવા વર્ષ જેટલો સમય વીતી ગયો છે તેમછતાં, હજુ સુધી લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવામાં સરકાર નિષ્ફળ રહી છે. રાજયપાલ સમક્ષ પણ આ સમગ્ર મામલો છેલ્લા ઘણા લાંબા સમયથી પડતર પડી રહ્યો છે પરંતુ હજુ સુધી કોઇ જ નક્કર પરિણામ આવ્યું નથી, જેથી અરજદારને આ રિટ અરજી કરવાની ફરજ પડી છે. લોકાયુકત કાયદાની જોગવાઇ હેઠળ રાજયના મુખ્યમંત્રીથી માંડી સરકારના પ્રધાનો, આઇએએસ-આઇપીએસ સહિતના ઉચ્ચ અધિકારીઓ અને જાહેરસેવકો વિરુદ્ધ લોકાયુકત સમક્ષ નાગરિકો સીધી ફરિયાદ દાખલ કરી શકે છે અને તેમાં જાતે તપાસ કરવા લોકાયુકતને સત્તા બક્ષાયેલી છ પરંતુ ગુજરાતમા તા.૨૪-૧૧-૨૦૦૩થી લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક સરકાર દ્વારા થતી નહી હોવાના કારણ નાગરિકો ફરિયાદ દાખલ કરી શકતા નથી અને ન્યાયથી વંચિત રહી રહ્યા છે.
લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંકના અભાવે ગુજરાત રાજયમાં સરકાર, તેમના પ્રધાનો અને જાહેરસેવકો વિરુદ્ધની ફરિયાદો પડતર પડી રહી છે. પ્રજાની ફરિયાદોમાં કોઇ કાર્યવાહી ના થઇ શકે તેવા બદઇરાદાથી જાણીબુઝીને જ સરકાર ભ્રષ્ટાચાર, સગાવાદ અને ગેરરીતિઓને છાવરી રહી છે. હાઇકોર્ટે આ તમામ બાબતોની ગંભીર નોંધ લઇ નાગરિકોના અને ન્યાયના હિતમાં હાઇકોર્ટે રાજય સરકારને તાત્કાલિક ધોરણે લોકાયુકતની નિમણૂંક કરવા માટે આદેશ જારી કરવા જોઇએ એ મતલબની દાદ અરજદારપક્ષ દ્વારા રિટ અરજીમાં માંગવામાં આવી હતી.

State rights body seeks reports from DGP, mines dept

IndianExpress 01/08/2011

The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has sought reports from the Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) and the Mines and Minerals Department in connection with the murder of RTI and environmental activist Amit Jethava.
SHRC wants reports on the alleged role of Junagadh BJP MP Dinu Solanki in the murder as well as in illegal mining in the periphery of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
Jethava (32), who had filed a PIL against illegal mining in the Gujarat High Court wherein Solanki and his nephew Pratap alias Shiva Solanki were made respondents, was shot dead on July 20 last year. Subsequently, the Ahmedabad police arrested Shiva and three others.
The Jethavas have pointed finger at the BJP MP from the beginning, citing several incidents wherein Amit was allegedly attacked by Dinu, but the leader has not yet been questioned.
SHRC additional director general K Kumarswamy, on July 25, issued a notice to the DGP seeking a report in 21 days on why, despite a statement in this regard by senior lawyer Anand Yagnik, the police have not interrogated Solanki and why the investigation should not be handed over to the CBI.
Kumarswamy sought the report after Jethava’s widow, Alpa, filed a complaint with the Commission that despite evidence and statements against the MP, the police have not questioned him.
In the notice to the Mines and Minerals Department, the Commission has sought to know if Solanki had been involved in illegal mining at Alidar village in Kodinar taluka of Junagadh.
This came after Bhikha Jethava, Amit’s father, submitted an application that his son had written to that department on several occasions about illegal mining at Alidar. “The SHRC has accepted our contention that illegal mining and Amit’s murder case are related. Mining mafias killed my son,” said Bhika.
Besides, SHRC, on July 22, wrote to the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court judge requesting to investigate whether Shiva, who is in judicial custody at the Sabarmati jail, is frequently given parole and facilities like cellphone.
Earlier, Bhikha had written to the DGP complaining that Shiva gets parole on the pretext of ill health and meets business associates in the hospital.