Mayawati's top official appears before apex court to say sorry

Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul Kumar Gupta Wednesday appeared before the Supreme Court to tender an "unqualified apology" for violating the court's order halting further construction at various memorial sites of Dalit leaders in Lucknow.

Gupta appeared before a bench of Justices H.S. Bedi and J.M. Panchal in response to the court's notice asking why contempt proceedings should not be launched against him for violating the court's Sep 8 order.

Gupta had Saturday filed an affidavit in the court's registry stating that he was tendering an "unqualified apology if there was any kind of disobedience or deviation in complying with the court's directions".

The bench, noting that Gupta had made a personal appearance, exempted him from personal appearance in the future and adjourned the matter for further hearing till Nov 30.

The apex court also granted three weeks to petitioner Mithilesh Kumar Singh and the civil society group Gomti Nagar Sanstha to file their responses on the state government's plea to recall the order banning the construction -- estimated to cost Rs.2,600 crore.

In two separate directives on Sep 8 and Sep 11, the Supreme Court had stayed all construction activities at various memorial sites being developed as statue galleries of Dalit leaders like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and her late political mentor Kanshi Ram. There were also statues of the Bahujan Samaj Party's election symbol, the elephant.

On Oct 6, the court had issued contempt notices to Gupta for alleged violation of these orders and directed him to personally appear before it.

Last updated on Nov 4^th, 2009 at 17:23 pm IST--IANS