UP AG Raghvendra Singh appears before “shell-shocked” Supreme Court, stay to continue

The Supreme Court today allowed the interim stay against the Allahabad High Court’s order in the matter involving Uttar Pradesh Advocate General Raghvendra Singh to continue..But the Bench of Justices Arun Mishra and MM Shantanagoudar expressed their displeasure at the whole chain of events..“It is very sad. We are shell-shocked.”.Attorney General KK Venugopal appeared before the Bench and apologized on behalf of Raghvendra Singh..Also present in Court was RS Suri, President of Supreme Court Bar Association. When asked what the next course of action should be, he said,.“Time to take a step back and introspect.”.The Bench then said that the matter requires further deliberation. It asked AG Venugopal for solutions, pondering whether the indulgence of the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court DB Bhosale could be sought in the matter..Raghvendra Singh, who was directed to make an appearance during the last hearing, was present in Court today. The Bench asked him,.“Tell us very clearly. What is the solution? We want a solution.”.The Advocate General replied,.“Whatever your lordships direct, I am ready to follow.”.While the Bench made no observations on the conduct of the Advocate General and the order of the High Court, and asked Singh to mull over his actions..The Bench then requested the judges of the High Court not to pass any further orders against Singh and the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh till the next date of hearing which is on August 11. It also made it clear that the interim stay would continue to operate..Last week, the High Court had expressed its displeasure at the Advocate General’s conduct, more specifically, his failure to appear in matters despite being called multiple times. The Court went as far as to seek the interference of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the issue, and directed the Chief Secretary to appear before it..The UP government then sought leave to challenge this order in the Supreme Court, which had granted a stay on the order.