Narendra Modi wants the Supreme Court to rule that the appointment of the Lokayukta or ombudsman for his state was made illegally by Governor Kamla Beniwal.   The Supreme Court will begin the final hearing on the case on March 20.

Today, the court issued notices to the centre and to the state Lokayukta, asking them to respond to Mr Modi's allegations that Justice RA Mehta's selection as Lokayukta is unconstitutional, because his government was not consulted.

Mr Mehta, who retired as a judge of the Gujarat High Court, was selected as Lokayukta by Governor Beniwal in August last year.  The state had been without an ombudsman for seven years by then, because Mr Modi's government and the Governor had not been able to agree on a candidate.

The BJP says that the governor has to consult the state cabinet of ministers before picking a Lokayukta.  Governor Beniwal, the party says, was used by the centre to inflict an ombudsman of its choice on the Gujarat government, and this violates the principles of federalism as defined in the constitution.

But a few weeks ago, the Gujarat High court agreed with the Governor's decision and ruled that the appointment was valid and Constitutional.  Mr Modi then took his case to the Supreme Court.

Tags: gujarat government, Lokayukta case, plea, supreme court

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