Who will be the next law minister?

AHMEDABAD: Lawyers across the state are eagerly awaiting the announcement on who the new law minister will be.
With riot cases in the sessions courts awaiting trial, the question is quite crucial not only for the legal fraternity, but also for those awaiting justice. While of around 400 riot cases, about 30 (including Naroda-Patia) have been confirmed for trial so far, victims are still looking up to the government and the law ministry for speedy justice.
The issue has been thrown open because of the demise of law minister and BJP candidate from Surat, Hemant Chapatwala.He died during the campaign barely 10 days before the assembly polls. The seat being one of the strongholds of BJP, the likelihood of Chapatwala getting elected, were high.
Former public prosecutor Akhil Desai opines, “it has to be a person from the legal fraternity.� He cited previous instances when even a temporary charge of this ministry given to a non-advocate candidate invited a lot of criticism.
Senior advocate Nigam Shukla says it is not compulsory for a candidate to be a lawyer. “But it is advisable that the candidate must have some exposure to law,� he asserts.
Shukla argues that as all legislation at the state-level which have legal implications have to pass through the law minister, knowledge of law is a prerequisite. “But one need not be a student of economics to be a finance minister,� he says.
Following the elections, two candidates who have emerged victories under the BJP banner are however the prospective candidates, who have also been practising lawyers. One of them is Bhupendrasinh Chudasma, who has won from Dholka, and the other is Ramesh Rao, a lawyer who won the Matar seat in Kheda district.
Chudasma, who is Sardar Sarovar Nigam Limited chairman, has also been a minister in the former BJP government. He had handled the irrigation portfolio. Another non-advocate candidate for this ministry is Mahendra Mashru from Junagadh.
While the riot cases still await appointments and formation of the special courts which are to be decided by the new law minister, the issue has also drawn attention of the lawyer fraternity in view of controversies which followed the appointments of the advocates, on the panel of prosecutors and as notaries.
While there was resentment from within the fraternity that able lawyers were dropped from the panel, the law ministry was accused of giving away the posts, to favourites.
Amidst the backdrop, speculations are also rife that the new minister, under the pretext of appointing his own men, may effect changes in the department.