New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) The Gujarat government plans to move the Supreme Court Thursday for suspension of the state high court order that upheld the appointment of Justice (retired) R.A. Mehta as Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal, a lawyer said.

Hemantika Wahi, standing counsel for the state government in the apex court, said Wednesday that the petition challenging the high court’s order, delivered earlier in the day, would be filed Thursday morning and mentioned in the apex court later the same day.

Mehta was appointed Lokayukta Aug 26, 2011. For seven years before that, the state did not have an ombudsman. But the Modi government had questioned Mehta’s appointment on the ground that the governor did not consult it.

A two-judge bench of the high court last October delivered a split verdict on the state government’s plea questioning appointment of Mehta.

While Justice Akil Kureshi upheld the appointment of Mehta, Justice Sonia Gokani disagreed. The case went to a third judge, Justice V.N. Sahai, who completed the hearing Dec 29, 2011, and announced the verdict Wednesday.

Justice Sahai agreed with the view of Justice Kureshi and upheld the Lokayukta’s appointment by the governor.