SC seeks UP Chief Secy's explanation for "defying" its order

The apex court was furious after senior counsel P S Patwalia submitted that Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani could not appear before the high court as he had gone abroad for medical treatment.

"Why you don't like Indian doctors? What is his medical condition? Find out. When the Supreme Court passes an order, is this the way you treat it? Explain why and how the chief secretary did not present himself before the high court in spite of our order," said a bench of justices Altamas Kabir and J Chelameshwar in its order.

Though the counsel said the official had gone abroad on July 23 much before the apex court's order dated August 7, the bench was not inclined to entertain the plea and sought explanation by Wednesday.

The apex court had earlier castigated the UP chief secretary for failing to appear before the Allahabad High Court saying "Your conduct is not at all correct. Why did you disobey the court order? We will not allow this.

"Your conduct has been very very bad. You may be the chief secretary, but you have to obey the law. You have to obey the law otherwise there will be no rule of law in this country," the bench had told senior counsel S R Singh appearing for the state.

Agreeing to abide by the direction, the counsel had assured the court that the chief secretary would comply with the high court's direction.

But despite the assurance, the official had failed to appear before the high court and incurred the wrath of the bench. (More)