HC notice to Gujarat Govt over Jagruti Pandya appointment

The Gujarat High Court today sought response from the Government over a PIL that has claimed the appointment of Jagruti Pandya, wife of slain BJP Minister Haren Pandya, as chief of a state body was "politically motivated".
A Division Bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi issued a notice to the Government and asked it to clarify its stand by May 4.
Jagruti, whose husband was murdered in 2003, has been appointed Chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
The PIL, filed by Chandravadan Dhruv, who claims to be a social worker, has opposed Jagruti's appointment on the ground that it was "politically motivated."

Jagruti was picked by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel for the post at a meeting in December last year where the name of another candidate, Bhartiben Tadvi, was also discussed.
The PIL claimed Jagruti was "not a person of eminence, a condition required for the post, and had no knowledge in the required field."
"Jagruti Pandya is now part of the BJP (the ruling party). There is no provision in the Act (related to the Commission) for political personalities to be appointed to such an important post. Therefore, the appointment is liable to be scrapped," it stated.