The Supreme Court today upheld the appointment of Justice (Retired) R A Mehta as Gujarat Lokayukta by Governor Kamla Beniwal, saying it was done in consultation with the Chief Justice of the High Court. A bench of justices, B S Chauhan and F M Ibrahim Kalifulla dismissed the Gujarat government's plea that the appointment was illegal as it was done without consulting it.

The bench said that the Governor is bound to act under the advice of the Council of Ministers, but the appointment of Justice Mehta is right as it was done in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. The apex court said that Justice Mehta can go ahead with his work as Lokayukta.

The Governor had on 25th of August, 2011 appointed Justice Mehta to the post of Lokayukta, which had been lying vacant for the last eight years. The Gujarat government had moved the apex court against the 18th of January, 2012 order of the Gujarat High Court upholding the Governor's decision.