The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed the State government to sub mit details of the steps it has taken to appoint a new Goa Lokayukta. The post has been vacant since De cember 2024, following the retirement of Justice (Retd) Ambadas Joshi. The direction came in response to a writ peti tion filed by All India Tri namool Congress (AITC) national spokesperson Trajano D’Mello, who urged the Court to inter vene and expedite the appointment process. During the hearing, Advocate General Devi das Pangam informed the Court that the procedure to appoint the new Lokayukta is underway. However, the bench asked the govern ment to place on record the exact steps taken so far. The matter is now list ed for further hearing on October 13. In his petition, D’Mello stated that the prolonged delay in filling the post has led to a backlog of com plaints and delayed justice. “Several cases and com plaints filed before the said authority have been pend ing, causing grave preju dice to the petitioner,” the plea stated. He emphasised that the Goa Lokayukta was set up as an anti-corruption om budsman to address public grievances and investigate allegations against public functionaries. D’Mello said he had filed a complaint before the Lokayukta, seeking an inquiry into alleged cor ruption, maladministra tion and misuse of public office by the Goa State In frastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) in connection with the ASIDE (Assistance to States for Development of Export Infrastructure and Allied Activities) scheme. The scheme, launched by the Union Ministry of Com merce and Industry in March 2002, aimed to fund export-related infrastruc ture projects. According to the peti tioner, GSIDC had allegedly diverted a substantial por tion of funds to projects not covered under the scheme’s guidelines.
Due to the absence of a functioning Lokayukta, his com plaint — along with many others — has been kept in abey ance. The petition highlighted that at least 16 corruption cases involving public officials remain pending because of the va cancy. It also noted that in October 2024, the Directorate of Vigilance had submitted a proposal to initiate the appoint ment process, but no further action had been taken. The Lokayukta’s office has seen several prolonged va cancies in the past. Justice B Sudershan Reddy, a retired Supreme Court judge, was the first to be appointed. He took oath on March 8, 2013, but resigned on September 18, 2013, citing personal reasons. The post remained vacant for more than two years until April 28, 2016, when Justice P K Misra, retired Chief Jus tice of the Patna High Court, was appointed as the second Lokayukta. He served until his retirement on September 17, 2020. Seven months later, on May 7, 2021, Justice Ambadas Haribhau Joshi, a retired judge of the Bombay High Court, was sworn in as the third Lokayukta. His tenure ended on December 16, 2024. D’Mello has now requested the Court to ensure that the post is filled without further delay, arguing that the failure to appoint a Lokayukta undermines the very purpose of the institution, which is to uphold transparency, accountability and good governance. Adv Abhijit Gosavi is appearing for the petitioner
