New Delhi, Aug 28 - Expelled Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jaswant Singh Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat government order banning his book 'Jinnah - India, Partition and Independence' in the BJP-ruled state.

Singh moved the apex court directly under article 32 of the Constitution, which entitles a person to move the apex court directly in case of violation of his fundamental rights, contending it was a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (2) of the Constitution.

The Gujarat government, through an official notification on Aug 19, had banned the sale and publication of Singh's book in the state saying that 'contents of the book are highly objectionable.'

'It is of the opinion that the contents of the are misleading to the public and are against the tranquility in the society and interest of the state,' the notification said.

Contesting the state government's allegation to ban his book, Singh in his lawsuit, filed through law firm Karanjawala and Company, contended that 'the Gujarat government's notification banning his book was a hasty and arbitrary one.