Gujarat Government Commits to Filling Vacancies in RERA and Appellate Tribunal After High Court's Rebuke
The Gujarat government has assured the Gujarat High Court that it will expeditiously address the vacancies within the Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and the Gujarat Real Estate Appellate Tribunal. This assurance comes in response to a recent admonishment by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice Aniruddha Mayee. The bench expressed its dissatisfaction with the state's failure to fulfill prior court orders and commitments to make appointments to these crucial bodies.
In 2021, the court had issued a clear directive regarding these appointments, and the government had previously given its word to comply. Chief Justice Agarwal voiced strong dissatisfaction with the state's inaction, highlighting that the establishment of these tribunals was intended to alleviate the judicial burden and ensure access to remedies for the people of Gujarat. She asserted that the prolonged vacancies were depriving the citizens of these avenues for redress.
The government was represented by Government Pleader Manisha Luvkumar-Shah during the proceedings. In response to queries about the appointments, she informed the bench that the selection of a chairperson and a technical member for the Appellate Tribunal was in progress. However, Chief Justice Agarwal rebuked the government's pace, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and urging the completion of the appointment process without further delay.
After the lunch break, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi appeared before the bench on behalf of the state. He informed the court that the shortlisted names for the chairperson's position had been forwarded to the Chief Justice's office, adhering to legal requirements. The court accepted this submission and postponed the proceedings for a week.
Addressing the appointments to RERA, Luvkumar-Shah informed the bench that the search committee had identified potential candidates, and a subsequent select committee would finalize the appointments. However, the bench expressed skepticism about the state's approach and perceived it as making excuses for the delay. The judges demanded a clear timeline for placing the recommended names before the select committee.
In response, Luvkumar-Shah assured the court that appointments would be made within two weeks, indicating that her officers were actively engaged in the process. The bench adjourned the session, underscoring the need for substantial progress and tangible results.
TAGS: Gujarat government vacancies Gujarat High Court Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) Gujarat Real Estate Appellate Tribunal division bench Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal Justice Aniruddha Mayee court orders commitments appointments tribunals judicial burden remedies citizens of Gujarat Government Pleader Manisha Luvkumar-Shah chairperson technical member urgency Advocate General Kamal Trivedi shortlisted names select committee progress delay search committee timeline proceedings.
